Potential bus fare increase would not change fares for students

Riding the bus around Fort Collins may cost more money if a

proposition to increase rider fares is passed in November, but

students will not be affected this year.

The Fort Collins City Council will vote on a proposed 25 percent

increase in fares for Tranfort Bus Service and Dial-A-Ride on Nov.

18.

The current cost to ride Transfort is $1 for passengers over the

age of 17, 50 cents for people older than 60 and there is no charge

for people under the age of 17.

If the proposal is passed, fares will be changed to $1.25 for

single rides and 60 cents for those over 60 years old. Fares for

youth passengers will remain the same.

If passed, the new fares will be implemented in January, when

Transfort releases its new schedule.

The Associated Students of CSU contributes to funding Transfort

services through student fees, but will not be affected by the fare

increase this school year.

“Students won’t feel the impact this year,” said ASCSU President

Jesse Lauchner.

“We have a year-to-year contract until June (2004), if they

raise the prices we won’t be affected.”

If the proposal is passed, however, renegotiations of the ASCSU

contract with Transfort this spring will most likely include the

increased fares.

Currently, each full-time student pays a flat rate of $12.19 in

student fees for the bus service, totaling $550,000 that ASCSU

contributes to Transfort services each year, Lauchner said.

In May 2002, due to public comment, the City Council requested a

study to assess if the current fares and fees were appropriate,

said Marlys Sittner, Transfort’s operations manager.

Transfort submitted a proposal last week to City Council to

increase fares by 10, 25 or 50 percent, indicating the effects each

percent increase would have on revenue and rider use.

“We laid out the options and the results and most were

interested in the 25 percent (increase)” Sittner said.

Tom Frazier, Transfort general manager, said there is a

potential for loss of riders if City Council decides to increase

the fares.

“For every 10 percent increase in fares, there’s a potential of

(three and one third) percent reduction in ridership,” Frazier

said.

Transfort could potentially lose 20,000 passengers from the bus

service and 6,000 from Dial-A-Ride.

Fort Collins City Council will be voting on the proposition on

Nov. 18 and public comment is encouraged.