Bus Riders Group Decries Proposed Rail Hike

A bus riders group assailed a proposed 50-cent hike in the rail fare charged for riding Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority trains Thursday, contending it would violate a federal court order by hurting poor bus riders.

Leaders of the Bus Riders Union told the MTA board that an increase in rail fares would affect bus riders forced to transfer to trains because of bus service cuts. The group also opposed planned cuts in late-night bus service.

MTA interim chief executive Julian Burke has proposed an increase, from $1.35 to $1.85, effective April 1, in the cash price charged for riding the Los Angeles subway, the Los Angeles-to-Long Beach Blue Line and the Norwalk-to-El Segundo Green Line.

He also has proposed cuts in lightly used bus lines to help erase a $50.6-million budget deficit.

MTA officials assert that a rail fare increase is permitted under the consent decree signed a year ago in response to a civil rights lawsuit alleging poor bus service.

A public hearing will be held in January on the proposed fare increase, which must be approved by two-thirds of the 13-member board.

Several board members asked Burke to explore alternative cost-cutting measures further--including cutting back fees paid to MTA consultants--before they are asked to vote on a fare increase.

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre, an MTA board member, said a fare increase on top of service cuts would penalize riders twice--”once in their pocketbook and then in their inability to get from one place to another.”

Explaining the proposed cuts in bus service, MTA deputy chief executive Allan G. Lipsky said: “We want to increase service on overcrowded lines and add service where needed. What we don’t want to do is run empty buses.”