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County Might Double Bus Fares

By Carl Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: November 27, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - Run over by higher gasoline prices and other expenses, Pasco County commissioners are prepared to double county bus fares to $1 per rider on March 1.

Fares also would double from $2 to $4 for special needs riders who reserve paratransit buses or subsidized taxi rides to pick them up at their doorstep. Most trips would be limited to doctor appointments or job interviews.

Pasco County Public Transportation had been spinning its wheels in recent months trying to hire enough drivers to meet the demand, commissioners were told.

As gas prices rise, so do the number of bus riders.

PCPT added bus routes and expanded hours.

At the same time PCPT became swamped with requests for paratransit bus service reserved at least 24 hours ahead by riders picked up at their homes.

Even though the county could provide paratransit service at lower costs, by last year PCPT was forced to hire taxis and other independent contractors for more than nine out of 10 paratransit trips.

The fare increases would bring in an extra $163,748, PCPT manager Mike Carroll said today.

Good news, Carroll reported: Three more drivers were hired today and five more are "in the pipeline."
The last time bus fares were changed, the county actually lowered fares considerably to 50 cents, County Administrator John Gallagher recalled. At the time ridership was low.

"It's tough to be everything to everybody," Commissioner Jack Mariano commented about the tough decisions on bus service.

However, commissioners adopted a go-slow attitude about cutting off county funds for nonprofit agencies to transport their clients. For instance, YMCA has its own bus to ferry students to after-school activities.

The county now gives $196,641 to nonprofit groups for transportation costs. The nonprofit groups often can provide better service for their special needs niches, Carroll said.

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