The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09/16/2008 07 Transit Fare Adjustments - Set Public Hearing Dates BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 7 For Meeting of: September 16, 2008 ITEM TITLE: Public Hearings on September 16, 2008 at 7:00 pm and September 23, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. regarding Transit Fare Adjustments SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works Ken Mehin, Transit Manager CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Ken Mehin /576 -6415 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The City of Yakima will conduct two public hearings to consider a transit fare adjustment proposal. The first public hearing will be held Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. and the second public hearing will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. The location for both hearings is Council Chambers at City Hall, 129 North 2nd Street, Yakima, Washington. Yakima Transit last raised bus fares in 1995; however, due to the dramatic increase in fuel costs, it is necessary to reassess fares to accommodate a portion of this increase. Any citizen wishing to comment on this issue is welcome to attend the public hearing or contact the City Council in the following manner: 1) Send a letter via regular mail to 'Yakima City Council, 129 N. 2" Street, Yakima, Wa. 98901'; or, 2) E -mail your comments to ccouncil @ci.yakima.wa.us. Include in the e-mail subject line, "Transit Fare Adjustment." Please also include your name and mailing address. City Council has scheduled a study session for October 14, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall to assess the public hearing testimony and provide final direction to staff. Resolution Ordinance Other (Specify) Contract Mail to (name and address): Funding Source: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: �� City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests Council to conduct the public hearing sessions. BOARD / COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Council Transportation/ Transit Committee recommends holding the Public Hearings prior to Council Action. • COUNCIL ACTION: frAKIMA TRANSIT" FARE INCREASE PROPOSALSI Yakima Transit has been providing transportation services to the citi- zens of the City of Yakima for forty two years. It began with Fixed Bus Routes; expanded to include Dial -A -Ride connections for Seniors and the Disabled and currently provides a Vanpool program for those employees commuting to /from Yakima County worksites. During this period of time, our system has strived to keep our fares stable; having only sought increases from the original price of 25 cents just three times - the last being granted in 1995. With the price of fuel costing 60 percent more since last year, Yakima Transit operations have been forced to dip into our Cash Reserves to pay for the increase. These Cash Reserves are what we use to replace our older buses and • other associated vehicles. Their acquiring costs have also gone up by an average of 15% since our last bus order in 2006. As a result, the City of Yakima has called for Public Hearings on the following two fare options: PROPOSAL #1: This proposal would raise only the `WALK ON' cash fares for our riders in each of our passenger categories. Those purchas- ing a Monthly Transit Pass will not be affected by the increase. CASH FARES Current Proposed Change Percentage ADULTS $0.50 $0.75 +$0.25 50% YOUTH . $0.35 $0.50 +$0.15 42% S SENIOR $0.25 $0.35 +$0.10 40% DIAL -A -RIDE $1.00 $1.50* +$0.50* 50% PAGE 2 (PROPOSAL #1- Continued) Based upon our cash fares collected during the 2007 Budget year, the new proposed rates would generate about $30k more in annual revenue off our fixed route passengers. There will be implementation costs should the fare increase be approved. It is anticipated that printing charges for single ticket books and fare box price schedules will total between $5k to $8k; which will offset the additional revenue stream in the first year. Dial -A -Ride users could bring in an additional $40k in fares should the maximum allowed amount be charged. (see note) Monthly bus passes would remain at the current price level as indicated below: ADULTS $17.00 /Month YOUTH $12.00 /Month SENIOR $ 5.00 /Month *Note: Dial -A -Ride fares cannot exceed twice the Adult bus fare price; but maybe set lower than that or even left at the current rate if so decided by the City Council. Transit's costs - for each trip as bid by our Contractor are the following: AMBULATORY $10.32 PER BOARDING ($1.00 WHEELCHAIR $14.63 PER BOARDING NO SHOWS $ 4.65 (NO RIDE /PICK UP ATTEMPTED i .. Page 3 ➢ PROPOSAL #2: This proposal would raise not only the 'WALK ON' cash fares for our riders in each of our passenger categories, but the Monthly Passes prices will also be affected. CASH FARES Current Proposed Change Percentage ADULTS $0.50 $0.75 +$0.25 50% YOUTH $0.35 $0.50 +$0.15 42% SENIOR $0.25 $0.35 +$0.10 40% DIAL -A -RIDE $1.00 $1.50* +$0.50* 50% MONTHLY FARES ADULTS $17.00 $20.00 +$3.00 17.75% YOUTH $12.00 $15.00 +$3.00 25% SENIOR $ 5.00 $ 8.00 +$3.00 60% It is anticipated that about $40k additional monthly pass sales would be collected annually from our riders. Currently, Transit collects less than 5.5% of our operating budget in fare revenues. Dial -A -Ride users could bring in an additional $40k in fares should the maximum allowed amount be charged. (see note) PAGE 4 (PROPOSAL #2-Continued) *Note: Dial -A -Ride fares cannot exceed twice the Adult bus fare price; but may be set lower than that or even left at the current rate if so decided by the City Council. Transit's costs for each trip as bid by our Contractor are the following: Summary: ➢ The proposed rates impact the Senior fares the most because proportionally turning a smaller fare into a larger one brings a higher percentage increase to that category. ➢ There will be implementation costs associated with any fare changes. These include: ticket and pass printing charges, fare box decals for each bus listing ride prices, Staff time to make and post signage, schedules and media notifications. ➢ Dial -A -Ride fares are restricted by the Federal Transit Admi- nistration to not cost more than twice the Adult fixed route bus fare. But there is flexibility on what fare amount would be charged. The current fare is one dollar (twice the current bus fare of 50 cents) The fare can be set at any amount up to the maximum amount allowed ($1.50) based on the 'walk on' fare adjustment adult bus riders should be authorized. ➢ Compared to other Eastern Washington systems, our system fares are in the range or somewhat lower than most. Union Gap Transit will be free for it's passengers however. And the People for People Community Connector is also free; but a do- nation is solicited (not required) from their riders. r s Fare Increase Comparison August 2008 Eastern Washington Transit Systems Adult Adult Month Youth Youth Month Senior Senior Month Transit Transit Systems Location Fare Pass Savings Fare Pass Savings Fare Pass Savings Tax ( %) Ben Franklin Transit Tri- Cities $1.00 $17.50 $22.50 $0.65 $9.00 $17.00 $0.50 $9.00 $11.00 0.6 LINK Transit Wenatchee $0.75 $20.00 $10.00 $0.75 $9.00 $21.00 $0.35 $10.00 $4.00 0.4 Pullman Transit Pullman $0.50 $14.00 $6.00 $0.30 $10.00 $2.00 $0.30 $9.00 $3.00 0.0 Spokane Transit Spokane $1.00 $33.00 $7.00 $1.00 $20.00 $20.00 $0.50 $16.50 $3.50 0.6 Valley Transit Walla Walla $0.25 $10.00 $0.00 $0.25 $5.00 $5.00 $0.25 $5.00 $5.00 0.3 w/o Valley Transit » »> Avg. $11.38 Avg. $16.25 Avg. $6.63 CURRENT FARES Yakima Transit Yakima $0.50 517.00 $3.00 $0.35 $12.00 $2.00 $0.25 $5.00 $5.00 0.3 PROPROSED FARES 1 Yakima Transit Yakima $0.75 $17.00 $13.00 $0.50 $12.00 $8.00 $0.35 55.00 $9.00 0.3 PROPROSED FARES 2 Yakima Transit Yakima $0.75 $20.00 $10.00 $0.50 $15.00 $5.00 $0.35 $8.00 $6.00 0.3 Created by Rich Lyons August 2008