Bus, light rail fares jump Bus, light rail fares jump (January 07, 2005)

VTA chief under fire

By Jon Wiener

In an effort to account for its continuing budget challenges, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) raised its rates again this week.

Costs of a single bus ride went from $1.50 to $1.75. Light rail fares increased from $3.00 to $3.50.

But the biggest increases by percent affected monthly and annual passes for youth, seniors and disabled passengers.

The increase is the third in three years and has displeased passengers.

"They didn't think about the disabled when they did this," said a woman who wanted to be known only as Faye. She rides the bus from downtown Mountain View to San Jose several times a week for her doctor's appointments and saw her monthly pass increase from $17.50 to $26.00.

The VTA Riders Union, a vocal group of critics, issued a press release calling the rate hikes "un-fare."

The rate increase is part of an effort by the VTA to increase the revenue it gets from passengers, a figure known as "fare box recovery rate."

VTA spokesperson Brandi Hall said that the agency had not received very many complaints about the rate hike. "I think the public's become pretty aware of the increase and the need for it," said Hall.

Board will vote on GM's tenure

Just days after instituting the fee increases, VTA announced that the board will decide whether to oust general manager Pete Cipolla.

The announcement arrived Monday in an addendum to the agenda for board's Jan. 6 meeting, where members will make a final decision. If the deal is accepted, Cipolla would receive $334,840 to resign his post and leave in June.

Cipolla apparently lost the support of San Jose Mayor and VTA board member Ron Gonzales when he suggested looking at building the $4 billion BART-to-San-Jose extension in phases, according to VTA board members. Cipolla was already unpopular among many of Gonzales' opponents who oppose the project on the grounds that it will bankrupt funding for light rail and bus service.

The change would come at a crucial time for the agency.

State and federal funding for the controversial BART project is proving elusive, and the board is expected to ask voters for another tax to help fund the extension. Many cities and groups have added their support to a civil grand jury report that called for wholesale reorganization of VTA. And a Metropolitan Transportation Commission audit in October found consistent declines in cost efficiency and effectiveness.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.