[Colorado-talk] REVISED RTD Fair Increase PROPOSAL

[Gary Van Dorn]

Joe Triplett and I attended yesterday evening’s RTD Study Session on the Revised Fair Increase Proposal.  Jamie Lewis with our valuable partner CCDC was also in attendance.  

RTD conducted a study, and received public input, on the fair increase.  One of the items from the study is the majority of the public supports fair increases to prevent service reductions.  However, people with low income, and people with disabilities, would rather see a reduction in service than a fair increase.  RTD did not provide raw data from the survey so I cannot extrapolate how the blind may feel.  

There are changes made by RTD to their proposal.  The Board asked many interesting questions yesterday concerning the possible fair increase.  I will provide the information available as of last night’s meeting.  RTD will present their formal proposal on 19 May 2015 during the Operations and Customer Service Committee Meeting, and the Board will give its final approval or rejection during its Board Meeting on 26 May 2015.  

RTD would like to initiate three levels of service:  Local Bus and Local Rail, REX Bus and REX Rail (Regional and Express), and Airport Bus and Airport Rail.  Many in the public feel that eliminating the zones on LightRail is a fair reduction for people who may have the means to pay more.  It appears as though the zone(s) will remain, however, it is unknown at this time where the zone will occur and on which line(s).  

The below table contains the fair/discounted fair.  The proposed fairs based upon public input currently is:  

							Local		REX			Airport
Single Boarding with Cash		$2.60/1.30	$4.50/2.25	$9.00/4.50
One-Way Trip with SmartCard	$2.35/1.15	$4.25/2.10	$8.75/4.35
Day Pass						$5.20/2.60	$9.00/4.50	$9.00/4.50
Monthly Pass					$99.00/49.00	$171.00/85.00	$171.00/85.00

RTD plans on the elimination of transfers except with the use of SmartCards.  You may use a credit card or cash to upload money to a SmartCard.  The transfer on the SmartCard would last for 2 hours and 59 minutes.  Day passes are available until the end of RTDs service day.  For example, you may leave Little Station at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to conduct business.  You purchase a REX day pass for $9.00/4.50.  There are plenty of errands on your agenda that day, so you take the train downtown, take the 15L to get your hair cut, go back downtown, meet a friend of coffee on the W Line, go back downtown, travel back to Little Station where you stop at home to drop off a few items, go shopping and return back home.  All these trips on one day pass.  Day passes are purchased through the Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) or on the bus.  The operator will print a day pass for you on the bus.  RTD says their service day ends at 2:59 a.m. the next day (2:59 a.m. Sunday in our example).   

The Board held a discussion concerning the Access-a-Ride fair structure yesterday.  It appears as though RTD and Mile High Connects are seeking sustainable solutions to reduce the fairs on Access-a-Ride.  Joe Triplet, Anahit LaBarre and I will discuss this issue too.  Joe and I learned yesterday there may be a legislative remedy as well.  

Please comprehend this fair structure may change when RTD presents it to the Board, during the Operations and Customer Service Committee Meeting and the Board Meeting.  The Board may even defeat the proposal.  The fair structure will be sent to Colorado Talk once it is made available.  You are welcome to attend the Operations and Customer Service meeting of 19 May 2015 to hear the proposal.  Keep in mind you cannot speak publicly to the Board at that time.  The Board could give its final approval on 26 May 2015.  Members of the public are welcome to speak to the Board for three minutes.  

Fairs are important to everyone.  I ask my fellow Metro Chapter Presidents to encourage their members to attend the 26 May 2015 meeting.  All meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. at 1600 Blake Street, Room RTD.  It is not necessary to stay during the entire meeting.  I will contact the Chapter Presidents individually to answer any questions they have.  Chapter Presidents, please forward this message to your Chapter members since I know not everyone is on Colorado Talk.  This proposal may affect all NFBCO Chapters since you have members who may travel to the Denver area on business.  Fair increases affect you too.  Contact RTD with any concerns you have.  Those in the metro area who are unable to attend should contact your respective member of the RTD Board.  See www.rtd-denver.com to determine who represents you.  

Gary Van Dorn
President, Mile High NFBCO
Board Member, NFBCO
Treasurer, NFBCO Sports & Recreation Division