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Pasco Bus Fare Increase Under Study
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Published: January 19, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - People with opinions about the proposed doubling of county bus fares can sound off at a public hearing this Tuesday.
Stung by higher gasoline prices and other expenses, Pasco County commissioners are contemplating bus fares of $1 per rider starting on March 1. The standard charge now is 50 cents.
Commissioners will hear comments from the public starting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey.
Fares would also double from $2 to $4 for most 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.
The fare increases would bring in an extra $163,748, Pasco County Public Transportation Manager Mike Carroll said previously during a November meeting.
PCPT ridership had been booming in recent years, so commissioners have wondered how the higher fares might impact ridership.
As gas prices rise, so do the number of bus riders, Carroll had explained. In response, 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.
Besides regular fares, many other fares could go up under the proposal.
A county public notice shows reduced fares for seniors, students, disabled and Medicare card holders would go up from 25 cents to 50 cents.
For paratransit bus service, special needs riders eligible for reduced fares would pay $2, instead of $1.
Day passes and monthly passes might become more of a bargain since the price will go up, but not by double.
The regular fare day pass for unlimited rides in a single day could rise from $1.50 to $2.50. Reduced fare day passes would go up from 75 cents to $1.25.
Offering unlimited rides for a month, the 31-day pass would cost $25 instead of the current $15. Reduced fare monthly passes would go up from $7.50 to $14.
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