Metro riders mixed on possible fare increase
Public meetings on bus fare hikes scheduled for next week
As Metro's board of directors prepares to vote a 20 percent fare increase, bus riders are expressing mixed opinions on the proposal but say they are unlikely to change riding habits either way.
"I hate to see it go up, but I understand," said 56-year-old Evelyn Everitt, a Portland resident who said she's "still going to take the bus" regardless of what the bus agency's board decides to do on fares.
Everitt, who said she rides the bus almost everyday, added, "It beats walking."
The Greater Portland Transportation District, or Metro, provides bus service between Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, and the Maine Mall section of South Portland. The agency has proposed raising single fares, 10-ride books and monthly passes by an average 20 percent to close a budget shortfall of nearly $200,000 stemming from changes to federal reimbursement formulas.
Under the plan, single fares would increase from $1.25 to $1.50, 10-ride tickets would increase from $11 to $14 and monthly passes would be raised from $37.50 to $45. Public hearings are scheduled in Portland, Westbrook and Falmouth later this month to discuss the proposal.
A majority of Metro's board of directors supports a fare increase for Maine's largest bus agency, which last year served 1.4 million riders. The board will vote on Feb. 24 on its 2010 budget and at that meeting will also set fares for the year.
If approved, the new rate structure would likely take effect April 1, board president Kevin Donoghue said in a recent interview. Metro's rates have remained the same since 2006.
Mike Halliman, 24, of South Portland, said this week he "might have read something" about possible fare increases but hadn't given the issue much thought. Halliman, who typically purchases single passes, wasn't too concerned about the possibility of fares going up.
"It's only a quarter," he said, adding that an increase of that amount wasn't enough to keep him from riding the bus.
A man who identified himself as "Richard," but declined to give a last name after a reporter said his comments may be printed, said riding the bus from his home in Biddeford would still be cheaper than driving even if fares go up.
An everyday rider from Portland, who also declined to provide her name, said Monday that the bus fare was "still reasonable" even at the rates being proposed by Metro's board.
"It doesn't seem out of line," she said. "I really don't have a problem with it."
Still, not everyone was on board with the increases. Darren Cravero, 21, of Portland, said the proposed rates "seemed excessive."
"You shouldn't have to pay $1.50 to ride the bus," he said, adding that he generally rides the bus "two or three times a week" but lately has been taking it only once a week.
Donoghue said Tuesday he still plans to offer a competing proposal that would set monthly passes at around $40 to offset other increases.
Public meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on February 9 at the Westbrook Public Safety Building; at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Central Fire Station in Falmouth and at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 in Portland City Hall.
