Mayor backs bus fare hike, but no action until budget OK'd

Kristin Czubkowski — 10/03/2008 8:36 am

Despite an announcement from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz that his executive operating budget would account for a Madison Metro bus fare increase, the city's Transit and Parking Commission voted Thursday night to delay holding a public hearing until after the budget goes through the City Council in mid-November.

The commission discussed scheduling a public hearing on the subject of a 50-cent increase for its Nov. 6 meeting, but member Margaret Bergamini suggested that having a hearing before the budget was decided between Nov. 11 and 13 would take the pressure off the council not to accept a fare increase.

"In my experience, it seems always the assumption that if you have a public hearing on a rate increase, then there will be a rate increase," she said. "There may be some shifting around with the proportions or the implementation date, but basically, having a public hearing on a rate increase usually means that there is one coming."

Commission members also made it clear that even if the City Council passes a budget that takes into account a 50-cent fare increase from $1.50 to $2 per ride, as well as increased charges on multiple-ride passes, the commission has a final say in whether that increase takes place.

Other options for how to account for the gap between the city's funding and not increasing fares at Madison Metro could include service cuts, a particularly painful subject for a commission that held a four-hour public hearing on the topic less than six months ago.

Cieslewicz said in a news release Thursday night, however, that a 50-cent fare increase compared to the 25-cent increase anticipated by the commission in its 2009 budget request would not just allow Metro to maintain its service, but improve and expand it.

"An incredible rise in fuel costs has taken its toll on Metro's budget. A 25-cent increase would have been necessary just to maintain current service levels," he said. "The additional 25 cents will allow Metro to expand services, increase security at transfer points, enhance ridership through increased marketing, double programs that help low-income riders afford bus fares, and create a reserve to guard against future fuel increases."

According to numbers from the commission meeting, the 50-cent fare increase would have the potential to bring in $940,000 to Madison Metro, which had an operating budget of about $45 million in 2008.

Ald. Brian Solomon, a member of the commission, questioned whether that increase took into account decreased ridership from those unable to afford the bus anymore. He also asked the commission to look further into what the economic impact of the fare increase would be on people who could lose their jobs without affordable transit.

"Given the economy right now, given the size of this increase, I'm not sure what impact it would have on ridership," he said. "I will also ask if there is any way that we could do some projections on the other costs, the ripple-effect costs. How many people depend on Metro to get to their job and if they lose employment because of this?"

The commission, which will likely meet during the third or fourth week in November for a public hearing on fare increases, will also present information at that meeting on what cuts from Metro's service would look like if the public preferred to maintain the same rates or increase the fare 25 cents or the recommended 50 cents.

Susan De Vos, president of Madison Area Bus Advocates, spoke out against any fare increase. She also questioned the city's plan to build more densely in contrast with potentially spending $41.1 million on roads in 2009.

"Madison is furthering spending on roads to increase sprawl," she said. "So with the economic development based on using cars, the bus system is being underfunded. It simply cannot keep on adding miles to its routes with the same or less money than it's been operating with."

Another part of Cieslewicz's Thursday announcement was that he would be maintaining service and full staffing at all Madison libraries in his executive operating budget. The Madison Public Library Board had suggested closing the Monroe Street Library branch as well as cutting service hours at all other libraries as part of 5 percent contingency cuts from all departments.

"The vast contribution of Madison libraries to our communities, families and children is clear," Cieslewicz told the Library Board at its Wednesday meeting. "That's why I'm happy to submit a budget that maintains our high level of service."

Kristin Czubkowski — 10/03/2008 8:36 am

Community Comments

Fri. Oct. 3, 2008 9:48 am

Boston T. Party says:

Borrow $ 700 Billion from the Federal Reserve , give it to Wall St. & pass the debt down to everyone else. This is the bottom of the rung. Since Congress is too wimpy to stand up to Morgan Stanley & Exxon , the Mayor stands up to some poor old lady standing in the snow waiting for a bus. Makes ya' proud to be an American.