RTD directors Tuesday night approved an across-the-board fare increase that will go into effect Jan. 1.
It will be the third fare increase in four years at the Regional Transportation District.
In recent months, RTD finance officials proposed the fare hike as part of a package of measures needed to eliminate a projected budget deficit of at least $12 million next year.
RTD held about 15 public hearings in September on the fare increase, which will boost the regular local cash fare to $2.25 from the current $2. The regular express cash fare will jump to $4 from $3.50 and the regional fare will go to $5 from $4.50.
The measure generally will increase fares between 11 percent and 14 percent and apply to all transit passes and other ticketing options, including discounted fares.
RTD expects to raise about $8 million from the increase.
At tonight’s meeting, directors also approved a series of bus and light-rail service reductions that will take effect on Jan. 9 and generate an expected $2.4 million in savings for RTD in 2011.
The service cuts include reducing the frequency of some light-rail routes after 9 p.m. on weeknights, and increasing the interval of 16th Street mall shuttle bus trips between the hours of 6:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. on weekdays to every 150 seconds from 75 seconds — the current scheduled interval.
The mall shuttle handles about 47,000 passenger boardings daily.
RTD staff had proposed that directors eliminate route 63X bus service linking the Littleton Mineral light-rail station with Lockheed Martin’s Waterton complex because of low ridership, but directors chose to retain the route.
Staffers also had recommended that RTD end its $83,000-a-year financial support for the independently operated Coal Creek Express bus route because the line only was carrying about eight passengers a day, costing RTD a subsidy of about $23 for every boarding.
Director Wally Pulliam said halting the service would deprive Coal Creek corridor residents of RTD service, so directors overruled the staff recommendation and approved financial support for the route, though they cut it by $10,000 for 2011.
