RTD Fare Boost Worst for Cash-Paying Riders

RTD fare hikes that will go into effect Friday morning could mean big increases for cash-paying patrons, who make up about 48% of the system’s hundreds of thousands of daily riders.

While the increases will affect most of the 1.4 million daily boardings reported by the district, just how much deeper passengers will have to dig in their pockets will vary considerably for individual riders, depending on whether they use cash, monthly freeway express passes, discount passes for senior citizens and the disabled, or ticket booklets, as well as the number of transfers they must make.

By far the hardest hit--with some increases of 40% or more--will be those who drop cash into the fare box and take two or more buses. For example, a cash-paying rider who takes a bus along Wilshire Boulevard, and then transfers once in downtown Los Angeles, paid 95 cents today. That includes the 85-cent base fare and a 10-cent transfer ticket.

Jumps to $1.35

The cash cost of that same commute Friday will be $1.35--a $1.10 base fare and 25-cent transfer ticket.

Officials of the Southern California Rapid Transit District insist that more fare income is needed to help them eliminate a $47-million deficit in the coming fiscal year and avoid additional service cutbacks or further problems in bus upkeep.

They note that, even with the fare increase, the $503-million 1988-89 budget adopted last week is about $7 million less than the budget for the current year.

RTD officials, pointing to new discount fare ticket books that go on sale at 150 outlets Friday, said they hope few riders will actually pay the sharply higher cash fares.

Encourage Use of Passes

The district is strongly encouraging greater use of monthly passes, which can reduce the per-ride cost for some regular riders to less than 50 cents, in part because there is no extra charge for a transfer.

The district also is encouraging use of discount ticket books. A book of 10 of the basic-fare tickets will cost $9, or 90 cents per ride, only a five-cent increase from the current fare. Senior citizens and the disabled will be able to purchase a book of 20 tickets for $9, a cost of 45 cents per ride. Users of ticket books still would have to pay 25 cents to transfer.

“That’s the point we want to make,” said RTD spokesman Greg Davy, “that these ticket books are available and cheaper.”

Part of the reason for the high cash fare is to discourage use of cash, which is costly for the district to handle. The 1.3 million dollar bills the district takes in per week fill up fare boxes, which then must be emptied by special security personnel. RTD officials fear that the number of dollar bills used by riders might increase by as much as 30% after the base fare goes to $1.10.

The new discount tickets, which are good indefinitely, may be purchased beginning Friday at most Boys Markets, Cash It Here and Nix check-cashing centers, as well as at RTD customer service centers throughout the county.

The prospect of a steep increase in the cash fare is getting the attention of riders. Guilio Ressa, a South Pasadena resident, is new to Los Angeles and has been riding the RTD almost every day for six months. The fare increase “is bad,” Ressa said. “I just pay cash. . . . I’m going to get a monthly pass,” he said.

RTD analysts said the new ticket book would be the best buy for commuters who take the bus only a few days a week, and otherwise would pay cash. The ticket booklets would also be slightly cheaper than monthly passes for those who ride every day, but do not transfer, Davy said.

Monthly Pass Best Buy

For those who commute daily on the bus and use transfers, a monthly pass would be the best buy, Davy said.

Despite efforts to soften the blow of the fare increases, many riders complain that they keep paying more for less. “I don’t mind them raising fares if the service is better,” said Bernice Sherman of West Los Angeles, who said she has used buses for 30 years. “But they are cutting service. The time span (between buses) is too big for me.”

BUS FARES GOING UP

The cost of riding an RTD bus will increase on Friday, with the higher prices expected to raise $27.8 million for the RTD in the next fiscal year. The new rates:

EXISTING JULY 1 MONTHLY PASS: Regular $32 $42 Freeway Express Stamp* $12/stamp $12/stamp Elderly and Disabled (E&D;)** $7 $10 Student (K-12)** $12 $18 College/Vocational** $15 $25 CASH: Base Fare $0.85 $1.10 Express Surcharge $0.35/zone $0.40/zone Transfer Surcharge $0.10 per use $0.25 per use E&D; Base Fare $0.40 $0.55 E&D; Express Surcharge None $0.20 E&D; Transfer Surcharge $0.10 per use $0.10 per use TICKETS: Bk. of 10/$8.50 Bk. of 10/$9 Bk. of 20/$9 (E&D;)

* E&D;, student and college/vocational pass users are exempt.

** Cost will be lower in many cities in the RTD service area through use of Proposition A funds.