Racine Transit Budget Proposal Slashes Job Access to Cope with Reduced State Funding
Transit Comission Backs Preserving Sunday Service and Hiking Fares: Hearing on Nov. 3
Updated Nov. 1, 2011
The 10% cut in state transit aids delivered in the State budget, the increase in fuel costs and the lack of local funding options led to the proposal to cut significant B.U.S. service. The plan comes on top of the loss of nearly one fifth of Racine's transit services over the past decade.
Second and third shift workers, and the businesses that employ them, will be hit especially hard. The impacts became clear at a recent public hearing. In packed common council chamber, residents shared their stories and urged elected officials to find a way to preserve transit and find alternatives to cutting people off from their work, school, health care, church—and severing employers from the workers they rely on.
See news:
The price of cutting back, Deep cuts in busing services might drive some residents back to welfare
‘Big cuts’ to bus service
After hearing from concerned citizens, the City of Racine Transit Commission voted to preserve most Sunday B.U.S. and paratransit service. The Commission also voted to increase fares across the board by 33% if no other revenue source is found.
The NEW proposal for service cuts includes:
• Eliminate evening service on Saturday, last bus leaving the transit center at 6:10 PM as opposed to 10:10PM.
• Eliminate late night service on weekdays, last bus leaving the transit center at 9:10PM as opposed to 11:40 PM.
• Eliminate the downtown Trolley
• Increase fares 33%, if no other revenue source can be found: single fare from $1.50 to $2.00, kids from $1.25 to $1.50, monthly passes from $45 to $60, paratransit dial-a-ride from $2.50 to $3.00, seniors and disabled from $0.75 to $1.00.
• Preserve Sunday service, which was slated for elimination
Important opportunties to have input on the transit plan for 2012
Citizens are encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas.
Racine Common Council Chambers, City Hall RM 205
730 Washington Ave.
The substantial fare hike adds new challenges for those least able to absorb it: seniors, students, people with disabilities, and mid and lower income households. A two-worker family would have to find an extra $30 a month to cover the increase on 2 monthly bus passes, a total of $360 per year. The fare hike is expected to reduce ridership and fare revenue by 15%.
Proposed B.U.S. changes impact residents and businesses in Racine, Mt. Pleasant, Caledonia, and Yorkville.
Racine is pro active in implementing creative measures to reduce costs in 2011 and beyond.
Examples include: