Post by bennyp81 on May 30, 2005 14:30:57 GMT -8
Bart Reed
User ID: 1523284 Aug 19th 11:10 PM
Los Angeles Daily News: Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Simi council hikes the city's bus fares
By Daily News Staff Writer
SIMI VALLEY -- The Simi Valley City Council voted Monday night to increase bus fares for the first time in nine years, including rates for disabled residents and senior citizens.
Councilman Steven Sojka called the increase minimal, saying the Simi Valley Transit's Dial-A-Ride bus system was a lifeline for seniors and the disabled.
"It's a necessity for some people, the only way they can get around," he said. "We went for nine years without an increase, and (now) we kept the increase as minimal as possible."
Several seniors praised Simi's bus system and said it was worth the increase to maintain good service.
One supporter of the raise called it "the best deal in town."
Of the handful of residents who spoke on the issue, none opposed the fare increase.
The council raised the rates to meet its own goal of making a 20 percent return on its fixed routes and 10 percent for services to seniors and disabled residents.
Without the increase, the city would have been forced to dip into general fund revenue to a cost of more than a half-million dollars over the next five years.
Effective Sept. 29, 2003, adult and student fares will increase from $1 to $1.25. Rates for seniors and the disabled will rise from 35 cents to 50 cents.
Passes for seniors and the disabled will increase $7, to $20.
This fiscal year, more than 420,000 residents have taken Simi Valley Transit.
With the hikes, Simi Valley Transit rates still fall below that of Vista-East fares and South Coast Area Transit, but not those of Thousand Oaks.
Robert
User ID: 9301033 Aug 19th 11:32 PM
Where is the BRU? Almost a 300% increase in the monthly pass.
Bob
User ID: 1523284 Aug 19th 11:10 PM
Los Angeles Daily News: Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Simi council hikes the city's bus fares
By Daily News Staff Writer
SIMI VALLEY -- The Simi Valley City Council voted Monday night to increase bus fares for the first time in nine years, including rates for disabled residents and senior citizens.
Councilman Steven Sojka called the increase minimal, saying the Simi Valley Transit's Dial-A-Ride bus system was a lifeline for seniors and the disabled.
"It's a necessity for some people, the only way they can get around," he said. "We went for nine years without an increase, and (now) we kept the increase as minimal as possible."
Several seniors praised Simi's bus system and said it was worth the increase to maintain good service.
One supporter of the raise called it "the best deal in town."
Of the handful of residents who spoke on the issue, none opposed the fare increase.
The council raised the rates to meet its own goal of making a 20 percent return on its fixed routes and 10 percent for services to seniors and disabled residents.
Without the increase, the city would have been forced to dip into general fund revenue to a cost of more than a half-million dollars over the next five years.
Effective Sept. 29, 2003, adult and student fares will increase from $1 to $1.25. Rates for seniors and the disabled will rise from 35 cents to 50 cents.
Passes for seniors and the disabled will increase $7, to $20.
This fiscal year, more than 420,000 residents have taken Simi Valley Transit.
With the hikes, Simi Valley Transit rates still fall below that of Vista-East fares and South Coast Area Transit, but not those of Thousand Oaks.
Robert
User ID: 9301033 Aug 19th 11:32 PM
Where is the BRU? Almost a 300% increase in the monthly pass.
Bob