Long Beach : No Bus Fare Hike in Budget

A 1987 budget that includes more peak-hour service, but no fare increase, was approved this week by the Long Beach Transit Board of Directors.

At $35.9 million, the budget is 2% bigger than last year’s. The budget incorporates the 1986 salary structure, even though contracts with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1589, which represents about 400 Long Beach Transit employees, expire June 30. Transit officials said that any salary increases will be budgeted after new contracts are negotiated.

State and federal operating subsidies to Long Beach Transit are expected to decrease next year while city and county subsidies increase. The net effect will be a subsidy increase of about $1 million. Transit officials caution that a projected 10% decrease in the federal subsidy, which is still under discussion by Congress, is “only a guess.”

The budget also includes $9 million in capital improvements, including new vehicles, buildings and equipment. More than $3 million of that will be used to replace old buses and other vehicles.

The budget also allows for five more drivers to provide additional service including extension of Route 10 to the corridor between Willow and Spring streets.