The Virginian-Pilot
©
Hampton Roads Transit has scuttled a possible fare increase for now in hopes of first trying to squeeze more efficiencies from the way it schedules and routes buses.
HRT was considering a 25-cent to 50-cent increase in fares to $1.75 or $2, but President and CEO Philip Shucet said a fare increase would be "the easy way out."
Cash fares are now $1.50. HRT officials have said service would have to be cut if the fare remains unchanged, unless the agency could find more federal, state or local funding, which is unlikely.
"If we increase fares, all we've done is have our customers pay for the inefficiencies in our bus operations, and then they'd never go away," Shucet said. "We can't ask our customers to pay more unless we've done our work."
About 49,000 trips are taken each day on HRT buses. And 75 percent of customers ride five days a week, indicating that the majority rely on the service to get to work.
The agency is poised to hire a consultant to find ways to save money in its bus operations. The company that HRT's board will be asked to hire at a meeting later this month, Transportation Management and Design Inc., is familiar with the local bus system and indicated it could find at least $1 million in savings each year, Shucet said.
The consultant will consider a range of adjustments, including increasing bus frequencies on popular routes to encourage more ridership and reducing frequencies on less popular routes to save money.
HRT runs 70 fixed routes in seven Hampton Roads cities, using a fleet of 343 buses.
The consultant would be paid $150,000 and would conclude its work in January.
"It's very easy when you have a captive audience to raise a fee here or a fare there," said HRT Chairman Paul R. Riddick, a Norfolk councilman. "I think it's commendable that our CEO would even believe that the agency is not as efficient as it should be as opposed to throwing a fare increase at the commission and the riders to cover things."
Even if savings are found, Shucet said, a fare increase may still be necessary.
HRT has not increased its fare since 1999. Fares account for about 20 percent of the agency's $81 million budget, compared with 40 percent of a typical public bus system's budget.
Additionally, HRT transfers the maximum allowed of its federal grant money, 80 percent, from maintenance funds to help cover operating expenses, which Shucet said is not a sustainable way to do business.
Riddick said a fare increase would be more palatable if it resulted in better service.
"If we could guarantee we could get people where they want to get on time," he said, "which most riders are concerned about, I don't think an extra 25 or 50 cents would be that much of a problem to most."
Riddick also said he wants to make it clear that if a fare increase is necessary, it won't be to subsidize Norfolk's light rail, which is set to open in May.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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No fare increase from HRT
So they want to get rid of inefficiencies? How about getting rid of the POOR way they handle what they call customer service? Don't waste time calling in a complaint, because they don't do anything about it. On a more positive note however, when you call inquiring about what time a bus leaves a certain stop or whatever, the person answering the phone has been pretty nice and helpful. Other than that, customer service is lousy and they do a very POOR job of communicating with the public. Sometimes they don't even tell the driver things until the last minute.
Part II of my comments
I actually got a phone call from a Mr. Gomez who handles customer problems. All he did, on voice mail, was tell me he was sorry for the trouble, he said I was correct in stating that I should have been able to board the bus and he would be having a meeting with the driver and union supervisor. I have called twice requesting to know what disciplinary action was taken. It's a joke. I'm sure nothing is done because stuff like this happens all the time. My situation was but a minor blip in their lousy operation.
What would be good is if they would compensate with free passes, etc., etc.the riders who have substantiated, legitimate problems. Maybe even take the cost out of the driver's money. That would be a great way to weed out the bad.
Gomez & Virginia Law
Roberto Gomez is Customer Advocate at HRT. He usually starts investigations rolling, and makes any necessary phone calls to passengers.
Virginia law requires that the details of any such disclipinary action be kept confidential.
No caring or accountability
I used to ride buses regularly 25-30 years ago. Then I switched to driving myself because as one reader wrote why take a 2 hour bus ride for a 15 minute car trip. Lately since moving to beach area I decided to ride the Maxx once in a while. I love the commute on the highway but that is where the fun stops. My connecting bus in the evening to go the 2 1/2 miles to get home from the oceanfront area is a 40-60 min. wait. Recently I tried to ride the incoming buses that turn into my connecting bus. I had an all day pass and I could be comfortable for the 40-60 min. I thought. The driver wouldn't let me on and told me I had to wait there. He stood me down and not wanting him to call the police I decided to just call HRT. I got a nice sympathetic ear and and promise to pass it along. I actually got a phone call from a Mr. Gomez who handles customer problems. All he did, on voice mail, was tell me he was sorry for the trouble, he said I was correct in stating that I should have been able to board the bus and he would be having a meeting with the driver and union supervisor. I have called twice requesting to know what disciplinary action was taken. It's a joke. I'm sure nothing is done
Why not more focus on
Why not more focus on bicycle transit? They seem to be hot these days, given how many of them are constantly stolen around the building I live in (and from inside the building I live in.)
Not that I don't want to clothesline all the bicyclers that ride on the sidewalk.
You mean something like this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raggiesoft/3612783516/in/set-72157616052946398/
No.
No.
a fare hike might not subsidize hrt
but it would pay for the consultant who said they'd need a fare hike in the 1st place....
oops....lrt
not HRT
Want a consultant? Listen to the market.
If transit were a viable travel option, then it would pay for itself with fares alone and no subsidy. The market is telling us that, at its true cost of about 4-5 times the fare, people would find better ways to get where they want to go.
All we would really need to do is get rid of our anti-competitive taxi laws, which restrict the number of people who can offer taxi service and impose minimum fares, and we would have no need for transit.
If it is really necessary to subsidize the travel of the poor, then give them taxi vouchers for amounts equal to the current transit subsidy.
The marketplace will do the rest.
Since the marketplace does not accept checks, you can send the consulting fee to me.