Commuters Protest Proposed Bus Fee Hike : Transit: About 20 riders tell the Antelope Valley Transit Authority they will stop riding the buses if one-way fares are raised to $3.25 from $2.25.

Antelope Valley commuters say they will stop riding public transit buses to their San Fernando Valley jobs if a plan to increase fares nearly 45% is approved.

About 20 commuters turned out for an Antelope Valley Transit Authority hearing Thursday night to protest the rate hike proposal, and dozens of bus riders submitted petitions and letters opposing it.

AVTA is proposing to increase rates for several of its routes, although the most substantial, and accordingly most disputed, price hike is for the commuter run to the west San Fernando Valley. Riders would have to pay the equivalent of $3.25 one way, up $1 from $2.25, when they purchase a ticket good for 20 rides.

What the commuters told AVTA board members Thursday was that if the $1-a-ride increase is approved they’ll drive their own cars, car-pool or van-pool to work rather than ride the bus.

“An increase of 40% is boggling my mind,” said bus rider Jeanie Jarvis.

Bill Budlong, AVTA executive director, said the price charged San Fernando Valley commuters is well below the actual cost. After the service was established in January, 1990, the fare was about $3 a ride. It was lowered within a few months to $2.25 per ride for the “punch tickets” to increase ridership, an approach that worked too well. When the last commuter bus leaves the Antelope Valley each weekday, people are often left behind because there are no empty seats.

With the success of the buses, transit officials said, it is time to bring the price back in line with fares charged to downtown Los Angeles-bound commuters who pay $5 per ride.

Commuters warned, however, that the proposed rate hike would have the effect of reducing ridership. They also complained that AVTA failed to provide any justification for the fare increase, which they said should also be accompanied with service improvements.

“If you go with this (45%) increase you’re going to have a stampede,” said Bob Mendoza. “And I’ll be at the front of the pack.”

AVTA board President Leroy Harrington suggested a compromise price increase might be appropriate. The board is expected to make a decision on the rates Tuesday, after a second public hearing on the fare increases is held at 10 a.m.

Other proposed fare changes include slight increases to the fares for riding the downtown-bound commuter bus and eliminating some group discounts for the Dial-a-Ride service. The fare to ride a once-weekly medical shuttle that takes Antelope Valley residents to major Los Angeles-area medical center is proposed to double from $2.50 one way to $5. Rates are also to be established for the transit agency’s newest service--a local fixed route serving Lake Los Angeles.