OAKLAND: AC TRANSIT WILL HOLD HEARING ON PROPOSED FARE HIKE
Dateline:
05/21/2008The meeting is expected to be contentious, as a group called the Transportation Justice Working Group will hold a rally beforehand to protest the proposed fare hike, which would be the first since September of 2005.
The group says speakers scheduled to attend include Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland City Councilwoman Jean Quan and Richmond City Councilman Tony Thurmond.
Bus riders, including youths, seniors and disabled people, also are expected to attend the rally.
AC Transit officials say they need to raise fares because they need to fill a budget gap of up to $20 million.
They say that's because employee health care costs and diesel prices have increased dramatically and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to cut funds normally reserved for public transit.
But the Transportation Justice Working Group says AC Transit's board should demand its fair share of regional funding rather than raise fares and pass the burden onto riders.
The group says studies have shown that AC Transit receives much lower subsidies per ride than BART, Caltrain and other Bay Area transit agencies that serve fewer transit-dependent riders.
AC Transit's staff is proposing that all single adult fares be increased from $1.75 to $2.
The bus agency's staff also is proposing large increases for youths, seniors and disabled riders, but board members have said they oppose raising fares for youths.
The public hearing will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and is expected to last until at least 7 p.m. and possibly up to 10 p.m.
The rally to oppose the fare hike is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Source:
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