Fare Wars : How Proposed Bus Hikes Would Work

A federal appeals court on Thursday denied the Metropolitan Transporation Authority’s request to lift a court order blocking a fare increase for buses and the Blue Line trolly. The decision set the stage for a hearing Monday on a civil rights lawsuit accusing the MTA of discriminating against low-income, minority bus riders by pursuing costly rail projects to benefit affluent white commuters. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circut Court of Appeals in San Francisco declined to overturn the court order issued by U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. on Sept. 1 Assistant County Counsel David B. Kelsey said he believes that once Judge Hatter fully hears the transit agency’s case, “he will be satisfied that the MTA’s fare increase was not discriminatory and was justified by the financial condition of the MTA.” The agency said the first fare hike in six years is necessary to help close a $126-million budget deficit. *

Changes If the MTA is allowed to implement its new fare structure, the following changes would take place: The basic fare would rise from $1.10 to $1.35. *Transfers would stay the same after 25 cents. *Tokens would stay the same at 90 cents apiece. *Regular monthly passes would be eliminated. *Monthly passes for senior citizens and the disabled, including blind passengers, who previously traveled for free, would increase to $12 from $10. *Monthly passes for college and vocational school students would increase to $30 from $25. *Monthly passes for schoolchildren would increase to $20 from $18, but would be good for for weekend travel. *Zone surcharges of 50 cents would apply on express bus lines and the Blue Line trolley. *

The System Riders: 1.2 million daily, about half of whom held passes of some kind as of Aug. 31. *Fleet: 1,900 buses. *Bus drivers: 4,100 full-and part-time.

Impact of Far Hike MTA officials predict a 5% drop in ridership, or about 60,000 passengers daily, if the fare hike is allowed to go forward. *

Token Information Bus tokens cost 90 cents and can be purchased in bags of 10 for $9. There are 460 token outlets in the region. For information on outlet locations, call (213) 972-6235. The information line is open from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Researched by HENRY CHU / Los Angeles Times