WHAT'S FARE?
- The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority most recently raised its fares in 2008, when the standard fare went to $1.25 a trip, up from $1 per ride as it had been for three years.
- Topeka’s fares are at the low end of those charged by the five major Kansas transit systems. They range from $1 a ride in Lawrence to $2 in Johnson County, where a fare hike that went into effect earlier this month increased the price of basic service to $2 for all routes, up from $1.25 and $1.75.
- Fare box revenue represents 14 percent of the TMTA budget.
City councilman Bob Archer said today that based on a city controller's analysis conducted in April, a mill levy increase far less than that requested by the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority "would take care of the situation."
Speaking on "Jim Cates @ CJOnline," Archer said the controller presented an analysis that showed TMTA's problems could be aided with a half-mill increase, not the 1.97-mill increase requested by the authority.
City spokesman David Bevens said that analysis was based on numbers from late March and a subsequent study, with new numbers, hasn't been conducted.
Archer said it wasn't just the analysis that troubled him. He said TMTA hasn't attempted to reconcile the difference between its request and the controller's numbers. And he sounded skeptical of the agency's management saying other options such as fare increases and developing a tax district haven't been pursued.
"We need proactive, aggressive leadership, and I’m concerned that we may not have that kind of leadership at TMTA," Archer said.
CALL City Council & tell them we need them to do everything they can to preserve the current bus service!
Call or email your City Council representative and let them know:
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We need the City Council to do everything they can to preserve the current bus service!
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Ask the City Council to sponsor a community-wide forum on the future of our public transit system.
To email your Council member go to: http://www.topeka.org/cityofficials/index.shtml
Mayor, Bill Bunten, 368-3895
District #1, Karen Hiller, 232-2917
District #2, John Alcala, 233-7110
District #3, Sylvia Ortiz,, 357-0717
District #4, Jack Woelfel, 215-3323
District #5, Larry Wolgast, 272-6896
District #6, Deborah Swank, 233-1037
District #7, Robert Archer, 218-9682
District #8, Jeff Preisner, 271-1959
District #9, Richard Harmon, 271-6962