TARC OKs rate increases

Clark County

Discussion

May 22, 2012

TARC OKs rate increases

No decision on route changes for now

By BRADEN LAMMERS braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Tue May 22, 2012, 09:33 PM EDT

LOUISVILLE — The Transit Authority of River City Board of Directors approved an across-the-board fare increase Tuesday.

The 25 cent increase in fares will go into effect July 1, and along with service cuts, is expected to help cover a projected $4.6 million budget shortfall next year.

While TARC is moving forward with the fare increases, it is taking another look at service reduction proposals based on public comment, said TARC Executive Director J. Barry Barker, in a press release.

Before the decision was reached, a series of public meetings were held to gather input on the proposed changes.

According to TARC, 712 comments were received through various forms and at six public meetings.

Barker said in the release, 47 comments — out of the 152 people who attended the meetings — were received about the fare increase proposal, with most everyone voicing objections. The vast majority of other comments were from passengers asking for the route they ride to be spared from elimination or change that would reduce service.

Among other vocal critics to the proposed service cuts and rate increases were several Southern Indiana government officials.

Jeffersonville City Councilman Mike Smith and Clarksville Town Council President John Gilkey said more routes are needed in Indiana, and New Albany City Planner Krisjans Streips urged that TARC reconsider cutting routes on Charlestown Road.

Gilkey said in an interview after the proposal was announced that Southern Indiana receives inadequate service from TARC for the amount of revenue, about $1.2 million, that the state puts into the service annually.

“The areas they serve are somewhat limited,” he said. “We really don’t have a lot of routes and [they’re] infrequent.”

TARC Communications Manager Jon Reiter said about 8 percent of TARC’s overall fixed routes go to Southern Indiana and about 3.4 percent of TARC ridership is on Indiana routes.

Contrary to its monetary situation, the amount of people riding the public transit system has increased about 10 percent, Barker said.

But the transportation service had not raised its fares, aside from express routes, in four years and the new rates are comparable to public transportation fares in other cities, including Cincinnati and Indianapolis, according to the release.

The base fare for a one-way trip will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 and a monthly pass will cost $50 compared to the current $42 rate. A one-way fare for TARC3 service for individuals with disabilities will increase from $2.50 to $3.

The fare increases are expected to generate about $2.1 million annually, Barker said in a previous report.

To help close the remaining budget gap, service cuts were proposed totaling $1.3 million, with the changes to those routes beginning Aug. 12. However, no decision on those route changes was approved Tuesday.

Among the routes that have been offered for elimination in Southern Indiana are the No. 65x — Southern Indiana Express; No. 73x — Charlestown Road Express; and the No. 74 — Jeffersonville Park and Ride. Routes with proposed changes include route No. 71 — Jeffersonville and No. 72 — Clarksville-New Albany.

TARC did propose adding a new route in Southern Indiana. Route No. 82 would operate exclusively in Southern Indiana, linking New Albany, Jeffersonville and Clarksville.

Passengers are encouraged to use new tickets beginning July 1, although they may use old tickets and pay the additional increased fare amount when they board through July 31, according to TARC. All old tickets will be void after July 31.

For updates, passengers can visit www.ridetarc.org and sign up for email alerts or call customer service 502-585-1234 or TTY: 502-213-3240.