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DART seeks public input on new fare proposal
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
DART has undergone several changes during the past year including introducing paid parking at two stations and offering bus service to a non-member city for the first time.
While these changes didn't affect the pocketbooks of Plano residents, a proposed fare increase in December would result in all riders, including those from owner cities such as Plano, paying more to use the transit service. In preparation for a public hearing on the fare increase set for June 26 in Dallas, DART is holding a pre-public hearing Monday night at Plano City Hall.
"The meetings were scheduled to reach as many of our corporate pass, senior citizen, disabled and student populations besides regular customers and interested citizens," said DART spokesman Mark Ball, adding that 18 meetings were scheduled. "The purpose is to receive comments and recommendations that can be taken back to the DART board."
The proposal is still in the draft stages, but early plans call for increasing fares from 23 to 47 percent, while also eliminating other fares. The most popular pass sold by DART is the daily pass, with more than 6 million sold last year. Currently priced at $4, the rate would increase 25 percent to $5 a day if the proposal is passed. The passes have doubled in cost since 2003, when they initially increased from $2 to $2.50.
Other changes include the creation of peak and off-peak times, and changing the $1.75 single-ride fare to a $2.50 ticket which would allow for unlimited rides during a two-hour span. Daily off-peak passes, allowing unlimited rides during off-peak hours, would cost $1.75.
Monthly passes would increase from $65 to $80, with annual passes going from $650 to $800. Changes are also planned for fares which involve DART, the Trinity Railway Express and the Denton County Transportation Authority.
While light rail ridership has increased annually, overall ridership throughout the system is on a decline. In the 2008 fiscal year, the total ridership for the DART system was nearly a 117 million, a number that is expected to decrease to 99.7 million in fiscal year 2013. Due to this trend, raising fares was the only way to come up with revenue DART needs to meet its budget.
"There is no basis to suggest that anything beyond a modest increase in ridership is achievable and certainly not the level of increase required to fully offset the needed revenues; and there are no near-term alternative revenue streams available to make up the difference," Ball said. "The funds are needed for Orange and Blue Line construction, the expanded deployment of the new Smart Bus service, the phased-in introduction of the new full-sized compressed natural gas bus fleet, continuation of expanded customer communication investments on platforms and buses, and expanding safety and security initiatives."
Ball said a Power Point presentation detailing the changes to the fare structure will be presented Monday night, with attendees invited to ask questions and share their thoughts on the proposal. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Plano City Hall, 1520 K Ave.
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