In January 2008, AC Transit staff recommended a fare increase for ALL riders. The proposal would have increased the adult pass by 14%, the senior/disabled pass by 40% and the youth pass by 87%.
Community and coalition organizing, a rally, and public outcry pressured the AC Transit Board to explore other ways to fund their service without raising fares. AC Transit’s Board heeded the calls and chose to place a parcel tax on November’s ballot that will raise as much as $14 million a year.
When voters approve this tax in November, landowners will pay $4 a month for each piece of property over 10 years. This $14 million will go a long way in closing the gap in AC Transit’s budget without raising fares on riders, especially youth and seniors.
Bowing to pressure from community organizations, the Board approved a resolution that commits to keeping fares low for youth, seniors and the disabled should the parcel tax be approved by voters. For the lifetime of the tax, AC Transit has committed to not raise fares more than the local inflation rate.
With this commitment, the Transportation Justice Working Group has committed to helping AC Transit pass this parcel tax in November. AC Transit recognizes that keeping youth and senior fares low is critical to ensuring that these transit dependent riders can continue to ride AC and get to the places they need to go, like school, jobs, and social services.
A growing coalition of community, youth, labor and faith groups are coming together to mobilize our members, bus riders and homeowners to pass the parcel tax in November.
If you are interested in joining this effort and getting voter-education materials for your organization, contact Lindsay Imai at Lindsay(at)urbanhabitat.org or 510-844-1191.
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