Did you know that Metro Transit is proposing a 25-cent fare increase for riders in 2008? And up to another 50 cents in 2009?
With gas prices reaching $4/gallon, a slowing economy, and increased ridership, we believe the Metropolitan Council needs to hear from riders around the region about the real transportation needs of our communities. Please join Transit for Livable Communities and our Transit Partners coalition in responding to the proposal with a clear message:We need a bigger system, not bigger fares!
Background
With a shortfall of $15 million this year, it’s understandable that the Metropolitan Council (the agency overseeing Metro Transit) is looking to fill the gap. The primary funding source for our bus system is the sales tax on cars, and since car sales are down, funding for buses is also going down. But scraping together funding for a bus system just when people are looking for more transit choices is absurd! The bottom line is, Minnesota needs to invest in affordable, convenient transit. Period. And that’s what we need to tell the Met Council at the public hearings on July 7-15.
We have alternatives to raising fares
There’s no question that building a better system will require additional resources. But there are choices beyond raising fares for riders:
1. The Metropolitan Council can use half of its reserve fund to hold off a fare increase. This would buy time for the 2009 legislature to decide whether fare increases or service cuts are appropriate or needed.
2. Options available to the state legislature include: shifting more revenues from the motor vehicle sales tax to transit; increasing the regional sales tax to cover the gap; instituting new fees for off-street parking; returning to the property tax to fund transit operations.
What you can do:
1. Attend a public hearing! Hearings will be held around the metro area July 7th-15th in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Blaine, and Hopkins. Dates and times are listed below; go to TLC’s website for more information.
2. Send a comment to the Metropolitan Council by phone, email, or fax. Click ">here to send an email, or call 651-602-1500 to record a message. Faxes can be sent to 651-602-1464. The public comment period ends on July 25.
3. Help TLC reach our members and the public. Volunteer to pass out cards to riders on your regular bus routes (ongoing) or help us call our members who don’t receive email (June 30th and July 2nd). Contact Michelle, TLC organizer, at 651-767-0298 or to help spread the word!
If you have questions or want more information, contact Michelle or go to www.tlcminnesota.org. Thank you!
Dates and times for public hearings
Monday, July 7:Â 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Northtown Mall, Community Room
398 Northtown Drive, Blaine
Routes 10, 25, 805, 824, 831, 852, 854, 860
Tuesday, July 8:Â 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Hopkins Center for the Arts
1111 Main Street, Hopkins
Routes 12, 612
Wednesday, July 9:Â Noon — 1:00 p.m.
Minneapolis City Hall – Conference Rm 333
350 South Fifth St, downtown Minneapolis
Routes 3, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 50, 55, 94
Wednesday, July 9: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Burnsville City Hall – Chambers
100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville
Routes 426 Shuttle, 465
Thursday, July 10: 6:30 — 7:30 p.m.
Maplewood Community Center
2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood
Routes 64, 80
Monday, July 14: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Eden Prairie City Hall – Heritage Room
8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie
Tuesday, July 15: Noon — 1:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Council – Chambers
390 Robert Street North, downtown St. Paul
Routes 16, 21, 50, 53, 54, 61, 63, 64, 65, 68, 70, 71, 74, 94
Tuesday, July 15: 5:30 p.m.
Seward Square Apartments — Meeting Room
2121 South 9th Street, Minneapolis
Comments by email/mail/fax/phone to the Regional Data Center:
390 N. Robert Street, St. Paul 55101
Fax: 651.602.1464
Recorded phone messages: 651.602.1500 (TTY 651.291.0904).
Public comment period closes July 25.