Local News in Brief : No Bus Fare Hike--Yet

During an emotional five-hour debate, the Southern California Rapid Transit District board Thursday hinted that it may hike bus fares soon, although backers of the increase fell one vote short of winning approval.

The vote was the latest of several rejecting staff-proposed fare increases in the last year. But some dissenting board members said they may support a modest fare increase in the coming weeks.

First, those members want assurances that all unnecessary expenses have been cut and bus service will be maintained and improved. “I don’t want to be charging more for less,” said board Vice President Carmen Estrada.

Staff and board members pushing for a fare increase say the RTD is flirting with financial disaster if it does not increase fares to offset reductions in federal and state aid and rising costs. A $36-million deficit has been projected for the annual budget year beginning in July.

Several spokesmen for fixed-income senior citizen groups strongly opposed the fare hikes, under which the basic ride would go from 85 cents to $1, claiming their quality of life would be undermined. Frustrated board members called each other “fools” and said they ought to “go to the funny farm” and were guilty of a “horror story of failure.”