Walker Proposes Bus Fare Boost

Sep. 23–Frequent transit riders on Milwaukee County buses would absorb fare increases of up to 23 percent under a budget proposal that comes as ridership is up for the first time in six years, thanks to high gas prices prompting people to leave their cars in the garage.

The sweeping increases are part of a big cut in property-tax levy support for transit proposed by County Executive Scott Walker, who noted Thursday that his plan would preserve all existing service.

The increases would hit riders most dependent on the bus, including student and adult pass users and business commuters. Those groups collectively make up a majority of the system’s passengers.

The increases would total $4.4 million, if approved by the County Board, and could reduce the number of passenger rides by almost 1 million next year, transit officials say. But they hope rising fuel costs for motorists might help the system avoid that drop. Ridership is up this year for the first time since 1999, with more than 47 million rides predicted in 2005.

Passengers who accounted for about two of every three rides in 2006 would feel the price increases, which vary by type of fare, according to figures provided by Milwaukee County Transit System officials.

Festival-goers and Freeway-Flyer riders also would see increases.

The most-common type of rider — adult buyers of discounted weekly passes – would pay $16, compared with the current $13 weekly price, a 23 percent jump, equal to $156 for a full year.

Not all riders would feel the pain. Fares would hold steady for senior citizens, people with disabilities and young children. Also seeing no increase would be adult cash riders who pay $1.75 a trip.

The county left fares and routes alone in 2005, after boosting the adult single-ride cash fare by 25 cents in 2004 — a increase that made Milwaukee’s basic fare among the highest in the nation.

The proposed increases on passes would essentially end the era of deeply discounted fares for frequent riders, said transit system Managing Director Ken Warren. Passes still would be a bargain compared with the basic single-trip fare but would mirror the more modest discounts given in many cities, he said.

“I think they’ll accept the fares,” Warren said of riders, noting the rising cost of gas.

The size of the fare-increase proposal drew criticism Thursday from a bus union official, who called it excessive.

“I’m kind of shocked,” said Brandon Jensen, a bus driver and the legislative director for the bus drivers’ union. “This is a tax on those who can least afford to pay it.”

For the first time in four years, the privately managed county system did not seek any fare increases or major service cuts in its June budget submission to Walker, despite an expected major jump in fuel costs. It lived within Walker’s mandate to count on no increase in county property-tax support from the current $21.35 million, records show.

But later this summer, the picture changed dramatically as Walker struggled to balance the perennially tight county budget and maintain his pledge to freeze taxes. Also, transit officials were rocked by skyrocketing gas prices that added another $1 million to their projected fuel needs.

Walker chose a 14 percent levy reduction of almost $3 million for transit, the largest single-year cut since at least 2000.

Warren said transit officials were told to suggest ways to reduce the transit levy as shortfalls emerged in other areas of the general county budget. The late-breaking fuel price increase had to be accounted for as well, he said.

Walker said transit officials then suggested the fare increases or a variety of route cuts and eliminations, as well as restricted service for disabled users of the para-transit system.

The fare increases “are better than giving up routes,” said Walker, noting that many riders commute to work on the bus.

The county executive said he hoped to roll back some of the fare increases in 2007 if gas prices come down.

Walker made his plan public in advance of full release of his 2006 budget Thursday. The proposal is likely to fuel the debate over finding a new source of funds for transit.

Milwaukee is almost alone among major transit systems in relying on property taxes. Some county supervisors want state permission for a new county sales tax for transit. Walker opposes that but wants the state to divert taxes from automobile sales into the state transportation fund, which could be tapped for local transit.

The County Board will debate the issue next week as it seeks to agree on the best approach.

The ridership increase this year has left some people, especially high school students, at corners as full buses drive by, transit officials said Thursday. The problem has two sources, they said: rising gas prices that have increased demand for transit; and a later school day in Milwaukee Public Schools. Students now are boarding buses during the busy time for bus ridership.

MPS met with transit officials on the issue shortly after school began Sept. 1. The transit system added buses, and the overcrowding seems to be easing, MPS and transit officials agree.

FARE INCREASES: Here are the proposed fares for 2006:

–Adult weekly passes and adult 10-ticket packs: up $3, to $16.

–Premium single-ride cash (Freeway Flyer): up 20 cents, to $2.25.

–Premium 10-ticket packs (Frequent Flyer): up $3, to $19.

–Student 10-ticket packs, and regular student weekly passes: up $2, to $13.

–U-Pass (college students, one semester): up $6, to $44.

–Commuter Value Pass (quarterly): up $29, to $155.

–Festival flyers, single ride: up $1, to $6.

–Summerfest Shuttle: up $1, to $3.

–Half-fares (children, seniors, disabled): unchanged.

–Student single-ride cash: unchanged.

Source: Milwaukee County executive’s office

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