Another tax on the poor

Though no routes are cut, raising fares is about as regressive a tax as you can imagine.

Bus routes remain, but fare boost sought

In 2007 proposal, Walker rejects plan to cut back

By DAVE UMHOEFER
dumhoefer@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Sept. 24, 2006

No Milwaukee County bus routes would be eliminated, but fares for regular riders would rise significantly under County Executive Scott Walker's 2007 budget proposal.

Walker said he has decided to shelve a transit system plan to end four routes and truncate nine others. But he doubled fare-box revenue increases proposed in June, saying riders had told him they preferred to pay more than lose service if they had to choose.

The adult fare for riders who pay cash on the bus would remain at $1.75 on regular routes.

For riders with disabilities, Walker went along with a transit system proposal to increase the fare from $3.25 to $3.50 for the Transit Plus van service. It provides door-to-door service for riders who are physically unable to use regular buses.

The details of Walker's plan, which could be changed by the County Board in November, include:

• Routes 8, 45, 47 and 219 would stay in service. They had been on the cut list proposed by the transit system, which Walker had instructed to find millions in savings to help balance the county budget without a property tax increase. Walker also rejected other proposals to shorten or combine various routes.

• Weekly passes and sheets of 10 tickets, now $14, would cost $17. That works out to an annual increase of $156 for every-week riders.

• Ten-packs of Freeway Flyer tickets, now $19, would go to $22.

• Special weekly passes for Milwaukee Public Schools students, now $13.75, would be $16. Regular student passes and tickets are no longer available.

• Commuter value passes, a discounted fare offered through employers, would increase from $155 to $189. Employers are billed once a quarter under the program. Employees and employers share costs.

• U-Pass charges would rise, from the current $41 up to $44. The U-PASS provides college students unlimited riding on all Milwaukee County bus routes for the semester. Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University and three other Milwaukee colleges pay for the pass through student fees.

Transit passenger revenue is estimated to grow 13% next year under Walker's plan. Ridership has been stronger than expected as high gasoline prices have moved some commuters out of cars and onto buses.

System sought cuts, too

Transit system officials had proposed $2.6 million in fare increases and $2.3 million in service cuts. Net fare increases in Walker's plan are $4.25 million.

The bus system is run by a not-for-profit corporation under contract with Milwaukee County. Walker's plan cuts total compensation for the corporation's top two positions by 38%. That would reduce the compensation from $342,000 to $212,000 for the managing director and deputy director.

The idea, Walker said, is to bring the compensation in line with county managers in the Department of Public Works, of which the transit company is a part. Company employees are not county employees.

Last year, the County Board scaled back Walker's proposed fare increases.

 

Link: JS Online:Bus routes remain, but fare boost sought.