Dominique Hernandez
February 2, 2011
Filed under News
Fresno City College students are scrambling for additional quarters to make bus fare to and from the college and to other parts of Fresno.
On Jan. 10, Fresno Area Express (FAX) implemented rate increases, the first fare hike in 10 years for the Fresno public transportation which had reduced services in July to cut expenses.
Under the fare increase, a one-way bus ride increased by 25 cents, from 75 cents to $1.00.
A Handy Ride trip rose from 75 cents to $1.50.
The monthly bus pass went from $40 to $48.
A monthly Handy Ride pass rose from $25 to $48.
The Handy Ride, which previously had no limits, now has a limit of 60 trips per pass.
Even though the typical one-way bus fare has only increased 25 cents, not many people on the
FCC campus are pleased about the hike. They complained that the rate increases would cut heavily into their very limited budgets.
“Even a quarter affects you, because it all adds up,” said Stephen Carbajal, an FCC student who depends on buses for his daily transportation. “It’s a huge inconvenience.”
Janie Ramos, another FCC student, said, “I have to set aside more money for the week than I did before.
Now, instead of taking the bus, my brother takes me to school because of the money.”
Carbajal said that in the past, he bought the convenience pass for $35. “Now, I have to buy a metro pass that costs $48,” he said. While the metro pass lets one ride to Clovis buses, Carbajal said he never goes to Clovis and has no need for the added feature.
“I understand there are money issues, and the bus system needs to make up money it’s losing to keep running,” said Carbajal. “As a student who does not have a job, any extra money I have to spend every month makes a huge difference.
“I have to pay rent, phone bill, and other things monthly. The only money I have is financial aid.”
Fresno’s public transportation system is not alone in its decision to raise fares. According to information available on the websites of the Los Angeles Times and the Fresno Bee, the Los Angeles DASH bus system has been going through a lot of fare changes.
The Los Angeles City Council agreed to increase their fares from 25 cents to 50 cents, starting July 1, 2011.
In Santa Monica, the Big Blue Bus fare increased from 75 cents to $1.00 in Aug. 2010.
The Tulare City Council considered a bus fare increase on Jan. 18, 2011 to $1.25 to charge the same amount as Visalia, Porterville.
So where does all the money go?
According to a story by Jack Robinson of The Fresno Bee, the fare increase is necessary to balance the city’s budget. Fresno City Council President Larry Westerlund was quoted in the Bee article as saying, “If you don’t increase the rates, the service further declines.”
But some students feel the service has already declined. Stephen Carbajal said, “We are paying more, and the buses still arrive late and are always overcrowded.
Comments