With gas hitting $4 a gallon, Americans are taking public transportation in record numbers. NPR reported this morning that in the first quarter of 2008, Americans took 85 million more trips on public transportation than they did last year. Austinites are sure to follow suit, and Cap Metro, perhaps in an attempt to take advantage of the surge in demand for public transportation, has proposed a fare increase. Standard fare would increase from 50 cents to 75 cents, and other fares would increase also. Cap Metro says that “a new fare structure is needed to achieve a financially sustainable future for Capital Metro,” and reminds us that it has never raised its fares before.
However, before implementing any changes, Cap Metro wants to know what the citizens of Austin think about the new pay structure. (Who knows if what we say will actually make a difference, but at least they’re making the gesture.) There will be a public hearing on June 27 at noon at the Capital Metro Administration Offices located at 2910 E 5th St. If you can’t make the hearing (and who can make a hearing at noon on a work day?), you can fill out their online poll.
Comments
take advantage? gas costs them money, too, and they haven’t upped their fares in decades. it’s annoying that people are whining so much about this. there’s no such thing as a free lunch.