RTD staff is recommending a 14 percent increase for most fares — a hike that would cost riders an extra 25 cents for local cash fares, 50 cents for express and regional and $1 for skyRide.
The recommendation is part of a draft proposal sent to the Regional Transportation District board of directors last week.
The proposal, as well as another to kick off a pay-to-park plan, will be finalized Tuesday by RTD committees and presented to the board — which will vote on the matter — at its Aug. 19 meeting.
Board-approved recommendations would then go to public hearings.
Changes, if any, wouldn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2009.
“It’s too early to tell,” said Scott Reed, an RTD spokesman. “It could range from no change to an increase. But given the budget we are facing, it’s likely there will be some change.”
Escalating fuel prices this year have hit RTD, which anticipates $18 million less in sales-tax collections for 2008.
“I understand that it coincides with gas prices,” said Megan Littlejohn, 30, while waiting for the bus at 17th and California streets in Denver on Saturday. “I’ll just take it and pay the fare.”
If the fare increases are implemented, RTD would see an additional $13.2 million in 2009.
“If that’s how you have to pay for mass transit, then 25 cents is nothing,” said Peter Hynes, 35, an architect in Denver who uses light rail.
The draft report, which lists several options but highlights the 14 percent increase as the recommended alternative, also calls for the same increase in Eco Pass fares. Monthly pass rates would go up by amounts ranging from 12 percent to almost 17 percent.
The $60 monthly rate for local fares would jump to $68; express passengers would pay $126 instead of $108.
A second report is asking the board to green-light the much-debated parking-fee plan for about 40 of the park-n-Ride facilities.
Those who live in the eight-county RTD district would receive free parking for the first 24 hours but would have to pay $2 a day thereafter.
Users who don’t live in the district would pay $4 a day for parking.
Student and “senior/disabled/Medicare” RTD riders would have to reach a little deeper into their pockets too.
An RTD committee is recommending an increase in those rates by 15 cents for local fares, 25 cents for express and regional, and 50 cents for skyRide.
Ilce Guillen, a 20-year-old mother who works at Good Times on the 16th Street Mall, relies on the bus to get to and from work.
“I don’t feel like they should raise the prices. The only reason I don’t have a car now is because of gas prices,” said Guillen, holding her 6-month-old son, Guillermo, on the 16th Street Mall on Saturday. “If they’re going to raise the prices more, I’ll have to start walking.”
No decisions will be final until after public hearings, stressed Daria Serna, an RTD spokeswoman.
“If (the board) says there needs to be changes to the recommendations, then the staff will have to go back and make changes,” she said.
Fifteen public hearings will be scheduled, one in each board district, according to one of the reports.
Last year, riders dealt with a 25-cent increase for local, regional and express fares. SkyRide rates went up $1.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib contributed to this report.
Steve Graff: 303-954-1661 or sgraff@denverpost.com
