Fare increases will punish riders

Re “Unfair fares,” editorial, April 21

It is disturbing that upon announcing the success of the Gold Line, and with all the enthusiasm for the use of the other Metro lines, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would now seek to increase fares. Many using the lines can ill-afford the increased fares.

Part of this success and the increased use have been the management of the lines and increased gasoline prices. Certainly the lines have taken much traffic off the roads. The increase in fares is therefore alarming and will be costly for those who have made the lines successful. The success of the lines will diminish with increased fares.

If the MTA wants its riders to continue to use the Metro lines, it should, if anything, reduce the costs -- certainly not raise them.

HOWARD B. BROWN

Manhattan Beach

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The average MTA fare paid is 58 cents because of passes and other discounts the MTA offers -- few pay the $1.25 base fare. The average fare is 95 cents for some other big transit systems. Thus the increase to $2 for the base fare is justified, especially given a 12-year absence of any fare increase. But projected increases of 130% for monthly passes and 170% for day passes -- to say nothing of 400% for passes for the elderly -- seem awfully greedy.

The MTA should consider better and long-overdue ways to raise fares: Apply the same zone-based fares charged for existing express bus trips to light rail and subway trips, charge higher fares during peak periods when capacities are strained and lower rail and maybe bus fares off-peak within the downtown core to spur ridership and revenues when there is extra seat capacity.

RICHARD STANGER

Venice