RTD’s board of directors approved a measure Tuesday night that will increase local bus and light-rail fares to $1.50 a ride on Jan. 1. The current local fare is $1.25.
Directors of the Regional Transportation District left the $3.75 regional fare and $2.75 express fare untouched for the new year, claiming they already are among the highest in the country when compared with other transit agencies.
In contrast, the current local fare is among the lowest in the country, according to RTD’s analysis.
The 10-3 vote in favor of the local fare increase was a “gutless decision” to pass RTD expenses on to people least able to pay for them, said Bill Vandenberg of the Colorado Progressive Coalition.
Echoing that theme, Lionel Washington, another coalition member, told directors before the vote, “We’re concerned about the disproportionate impact this will have on some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Added Tori Ford, of Metro CareRing, which provides social services to some of the neediest residents in the metro area: “Local riders notice that you have singled them out to shoulder this fare increase.”
But directors who supported the fare hike said RTD faces as much as $12 million in higher fuel costs next year, and the agency could not begin to balance its budget without the increase.
Other provisions of the fare plan approved Tuesday include:
A hike in the discount local cash fare to 75 cents from the current 60 cents. Many disabled, elderly and student riders are eligible for discount fares.
A 31 percent increase in the monthly TeenPass purchased by many high school students, to $25 from the current $19.
A 10 percent increase in the cost of business and neighborhood Eco Passes.
Introduction of a $4.50 all-day pass that will give riders unlimited local transit service over the course of a day, and a companion $10 pass for all-day travel throughout RTD’s entire system. The measure approved Tuesday also includes a zoned fare plan for light rail that would go into effect July 1.
It calls for four fare zones, with Zone A radiating 3.5 miles from the center of downtown Denver, Zone B covering the area 3.5 to 6.5 miles away, Zone C the area 6.5 to 13 miles away, and Zone D the territory beyond 13 miles from downtown.
According to the proposal, train riders would pay a local fare if they travel within one zone or between two. They would pay an express fare for travel that passes through three zones and a regional fare when they pass through all four zones.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-820-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
