HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-2014 P-C RTA Runabout Fare Increase Proposal179 Cross Street, Suite A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 781-4472 Fax (805) 781-1291
www.slorta.org
The Regional Transit Authority is a Joint Powers Agency serving residents and visitors of:
Arroyo Grande Atascadero Grover Beach Morro Bay Paso Robles Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo and The County of San Luis Obispo
September 15, 2014
Re: Proposal to Increase Runabout Fares
Dear Runabout Rider:
At its September 10th meeting, the RTA Board of Directors asked me to conduct a series of public outreach
meetings to obtain input on RTA’s proposal to increase fares on the Runabout service. It is never an easy
decision to consider raising fares, especially on a program that serves so many of our vulnerable
community members. However, since the previous $0.25 Runabout fare increase in 2010, the Runabout
service levels have increased 57% and the annual cost to provide Runabout service is now equal to that
required to operate the fixed-route services – even though RTA’s fixed-route service carries roughly 15
times the passengers that Runabout carries. I have attached a Fact Sheet that provides more details about
why RTA is considering a new increased Runabout fare structure.
I encourage you to contact me to tell us how this Runabout fare increase proposal would impact you. I
welcome written testimony mailed to the address above or emails to info@slorta.org. I would also
welcome you to attend one of the public workshops listed below and to talk to us in person:
Grover Beach Ramona Garden Park community center on October 14 th
Atascadero City Hall (Room 106) on October 15th
San Luis Obispo Library Community Room on October 16th
We will conduct all three of these workshops from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. At those meetings, we will review
large-print Fare Tables that list each and every possible Runabout fare in the county – both the Current
Fare Table and the proposed New Fare Table. Our RTA reservationists (541-2544) can also help you to
determine the new fares that we would charge under this proposal for trips that you often take. Finally,
the RTA Board of Directors will consider testimony at a Public Hearing on November 5 th in the SLO County
Board of Supervisors Chambers. Our proposal is for the new fares to be effective on February 1, 2015.
I would appreciate your support to share more equitably in the cost to provide Runabout services so that
together we can contribute to ensuring its long-term success in our region.
Sincerely,
Geoff Straw
RTA Executive Director
Agenda 09/16/14
Presentation C
PRESENTATION C - 1
179 Cross Street, Suite A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 781-4472 Fax (805) 781-1291
www.slorta.org
The Regional Transit Authority is a Joint Powers Agency serving residents and visitors of:
Arroyo Grande Atascadero Grover Beach Morro Bay Paso Robles Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo and The County of San Luis Obispo
Proposal to Increase Runabout Fares
FACT SHEET:
1. Demand for Runabout is increasing dramatically & current revenues cannot accommodate it.
2. Runabout service levels have doubled in last seven years.
3. RTA fixed-route carries 760,000 passengers & Runabout carries 44,000. Annual costs equal.
4. Average public subsidy for each fixed-route trip is less than $4. Runabout cost is $60 per trip.
5. Both RTA fixed-route and Runabout services will need to be cut if we do nothing.
6. Federal law permits Runabout to charge twice the fixed-route cash fare.
7. Current Runabout fares lower than allowed, and in some cases lower than fixed-route fares.
8. Runabout fares last raised in 2010. This fare increase would be effective February 1, 2015.
9. Proposal is to increase Runabout fares to be twice the fixed-route fare; cap at $10 per trip.
PRESENTATION C - 2
Examples of most frequently used Runabout trips & resulting new fares:
Rank Origin Destination
Current
Runabout
Fare
Twice
Fixed
Route
Fare
Net Fare
Increase
%
Increase
1San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$2.25$2.50$0.25111.1%
2AtascaderoPaso Robles $3.25$4.00$0.75123.1%
3Paso RoblesAtascadero $3.25$4.00$0.75123.1%
4San Luis ObispoLos Osos $3.75$5.00$1.25133.3%
5Paso RoblesPaso Robles $2.25$3.00$0.75133.3%
6Los OsosSan Luis Obispo$3.75$5.00$1.25133.3%
7Cuesta AreaSan Luis Obispo$2.75$4.00$1.25145.5%
8San Luis ObispoCuesta Area $2.75$4.00$1.25145.5%
9TempletonPaso Robles $2.75$3.00$0.25109.1%
10 Morro BaySan Luis Obispo$3.25$5.00$1.75153.8%
11 San Luis ObispoMorro Bay $3.25$5.00$1.75153.8%
12 Paso RoblesTempleton $2.75$3.00$0.25109.1%
13 San Luis ObispoGrover Beach $3.25$6.50$3.25200.0%
14 AtascaderoAtascadero $2.25$3.00$0.75133.3%
PRESENTATION C - 3