The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
Hampton Roads Transit is gearing up for possible cuts in bus service even as its ridership is growing, because of reductions in its state and federal funding.
HRT has asked local cities to increase their funding by an average 8.3 percent to make up for more than $1.2 million in cuts, based on early budget estimates.
But the cities are financially strapped as well. They're facing budget shortfalls ranging from $8.2 million in Portsmouth to $48 million in Virginia Beach. City council members say it will be a challenge just to maintain current support for HRT.
"I don't see that we're going to be able to increase HRT's budget, not in this economy," said Norfolk Councilman W. Randy Wright, who serves on HRT's board. "We're asking every department associated with the city to cut because we've got to cut."
Norfolk has the most transit service and contributes the most to HRT. This year, the city contributed $8.3 million to HRT.
Chesapeake Councilman and HRT Commissioner Richard West said, "I'd be very, very surprised if there's any support for an increase."
West added that he was disappointed HRT asked for a significant increase in funding.
"That game is old and it shouldn't be played in this economy," he said.
"Believe me, I get it," said Michael Townes, HRT president and CEO. "It's not something that's lost on me."
That's why his staff is scrutinizing less-popular bus routes and is setting public hearings, which are required for service reductions.
"We're trying to protect the inadequate service levels we have already," Townes said. "We don't want to go from bad to worse."
The timing for cutting back service couldn't be worse for transit customers, he said. The economy and gas prices have driven overall ridership up 4 percent over the past year, while ridership on commuter routes has grown 25 percent.
About 14.8 million passengers ride buses and ferries each year.
HRT's proposed $78.5 million budget is about 2 percent more than this year's budget. Townes said the increase reflects higher gas, materials and labor costs. HRT's drivers and mechanics have union contracts that include pay raises, Townes said.
Townes said he's looking to cut HRT's administrative costs, including reducing staff by attrition and possibly by limited lay offs. There may be more budget relief from a bill just passed by the General Assembly that allows transit agencies to use capital money for operating expenses.
John Uhrin, Virginia Beach councilman and HRT board member, said, "It's a bad time to be cutting service, but we have to face the economic realities that everyone is having."
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Michael_Ragsdal
And I ride the 960 every day. It's amazing, HRT spent hunderds of thousands of dollars for these fancy new 40 passenger buses, and with the average 5-6 people riding, seat selection is fantastic.
If HRT can't promote and fill an express bus from VB to norfolk, what it the world makes them think a $750 million dollar train system, that will take twice as long to get VB to norfolk, and doesn't have a park-n-ride lot associated with it will fare any better?
Curious: Do any of you actually ride the bus?
I do, and I'm going to have to back up the previous commenter and say that, contrary to what some commenters here think, few of the buses I ride are empty. In the afternoons especially it can be standing-room only. As for charging bus patrons more, let me remind you that for many of the people who ride the bus, the amount we're paying already adds up too quickly sometimes. People who ride the bus are not a bunch of mooching slackers. No. These are people that are going to work and to school. These are people that are trying to get their stuff together, contribute to society and make a better life for themselves. Cutting their bus service is not a good solution for them or for you.
Just try getting a seat on the #1 bus
It doesn't matter what time you grab the bus running to or from Oceanview to downtown Norfolk; it's jammed. Not only does that cut down on congestion, but it alleviates parking problems.
For those who don't think mass transit offers anything positives, try fighting to get out of Ghent to Suffolk on a Friday afternoon and compare that to riding a commuter rail or even sitting on a bus reading a book or napping and letting someone else fight the traffic.
No, MORE than 100% of roads
First, I am not a member of the VBTA,I don't even live in VB.
Second, motorists pay more than 100% of road costs. You can see the figures at http://www.dmvnow.com/webdoc/pdf/tracking_mar08.pdf
Third, transit users pay at most 24% of their costs in fares, plus a small amount indirectly through City tax contributions also paid by motorists.
And finally, transit does not reduce congestion. There are seldom more than a handful of riders on a bus, and if they were on cars instead, they would not be stopping and blocking a travel lane every block or so.
If the money wasted on transit subsidy all these decades had instead gone to building the roads the motorists paid for in the fuel taxes, the additional lanes would do far more to ease congestion than the buses and LRT ever could if they were slam full on every trip.
100% of roads
If you pay 100% of the needed maintenance for roads, explain the big ol' potholes (oh that's right, you don't pay for 100% of the needed maintenance). Also, if we're parasites, imagine what a 40 foot bus full of people would look like with each person in their own car (then again, I am trying to argue with the Very Bellicose Taxing Authority, why do I even try?)
Uh, Michael
Motorists already pay MORE than 100% of the cost of roads, through tolls and fuels taxes. Only 80% of our fuel taxes go to the roads we use, 15% is diverted to subsidizing transit that only gets in our way, and here in Virginia, another 5% goes to subsidize the Port that clogs our roads with container trucks.
Transit users, on the other hand, pay only 25% of the cost of their ride, making them parasites on the motorists you deride.
aalto
You're still pissed over loosing the 26 Express back in 2001? The 960 does what your 26X did and more
VMT
To everyone asking us bus riders to pay 100% of the cost of our trips: then call Congress and tell them you support a 100% Vehicle Mileage Tax so you can 100% pay for roads. Yeah, that's what you're asking for. I expect to be flamed by the usual suspects (you know who you are)
Hey santa
sessoms and fraim don't have any answers. They blindly follow what HRT, TDCHR, MPO, SPSA, and most importantly the developers tell them to do.
will it ever stop?
why do opinions persist that MORE government involvement is the answer? If it is run in a profitable manner it will flourish and succeed, if it can't be profitable (like any other business) it needs to die. Private ownership IS the answer, not existing as another taxpayer sinkhole....like the post office, SPSA...etc,etc