Apparently, RTD's previous proclamation that our transit fares are similar to other cities no longer holds water. According to RTD's own records, our express and regional transit are on average nearly a full dollar ($.96) higher than other cities. Anyone who has ever took a $10 SkyRide trip to the airport fully understands this. Supposedly, the local transit fares are on par with other cities though I wonder if it takes into consideration our awful zoned system which makes light rail potentially cost upwards of $4.50 just to travel through a few zones. Many if not most cities have one fare for all local transit, regardless of how far you travel.
Because of the higher fares, RTD has gained 12 percent more fare revenue for the first quarter of 2009. I doubt the revenue increase will continue much further into 2009 since the system-wide cuts that just went into effect will certainly effect the fare box.
So while it's good news that RTD probably won't raise fares in 2010, the bigger worry is what RTD is going to do in face of massive revenue declines from its take in sales tax. During this recession, sales tax revenues decreased 12 percent for the first quarter of the year. Since RTD gets the vast majority of its revenue from taxes, this is definitely a bad situation. The genius analysts at RTD said they are only expecting a seven percent tax revenue drop for the year, which I think is dubious since we are already at 12 percent for the first three months and its not like the economy is steadily improving. I expect deeper revenue declines and severe slashes in the service as a result.
With the economy in trouble its hard to expect RTD to do anything but remain in a holding pattern, but they should also really be considering its place within this city and how to get Denver a truly great transit system if they are going to have any long term viability. Sure FasTracks will help when (or if) that is completed, but a lot of the problem is at a systematic level with policies that do not fully consider the transit experience for its riders. RTD needs a much less complicated fare structure (get rid of zones already), an increase in neighborhood service, stops that actually provide accurate schedules, and a greater ability for regular people to simply take transit instead of driving. We are a long way to go before RTD is anything close to cities with real transit, but I have been encouraged by a few recent developments (acknowledging that RTD is overpriced, the upgraded web site, the fact that Cal Marsella is no longer in charge). But what else should RTD be doing NOW to make sure it has a healthy future.
3 comments:
It's $2.25 to travel from one play ANYWHERE in Chicago to ANYPLACE else on Chicago on a REAL rail system. RTDs fares are a joke. I could travel literally over 30 miles for $2.25.
Exactly....RTD acts like its some great transit system just because it charges an "average" fair for its "local" system. Never mind that in most cities that base fare is for the entire system, which is in almost every case many more times as extensive as what Denver has. In Chicago, NYC and Boston you can get to all airports for the base fare price, but here in Denver, god forbid you need to take public transportation to our airport, because it will cost you at least $10 each way. Understandably, our airport is farther than many other cities, but a bus is a bus, and a ride to the airport pays for itself when like more than two or three people decide to take that option. RTD is just greedy, plain and simple.
What? None of these public transportation systems make money. They all have to leach taxes from the taxpayers to subsidize the riders - including RTD. Second, if you travel a further distance you use up more resources and therefore should have to pay more. I don't see anything unfair about that. When was the last time you got in a taxi and told him to drive you a hundred miles and he charged you the same as if you only went 2 miles???
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