Many observers would be surprised if Austin's public transit agency did not adopt the third fare hike in three years today. Capital Metro has already calculated the fare increase into its FY2011 budget.
"The approved budget also increases our long-term sustainability by lowering costs [and] boosting revenue through a fare increase," Cap Metro president and CEO Linda Watson wrote in the budget document.
The Cap Metro board is scheduled to vote on the increase at 3 p.m.
Cap Metro’s Misty Whited told us about the most controversial fare hikes in a story KUT's Mose Buchele filed after attending a public hearing last month.
“Right now seniors and persons with disabilities ride bus and rail services at no costs, we would start charging them a reduced rate at 50 cents per ride or a 31 days pass would cost 15 dollars,” said Whited.
Listen to Mose's story here:
http://media.kut.org/sounds/news_00022871/web_cap_metyro_hikes.mp3
You can see a chart of proposed fares here. If approved, they would take effect January 2011.
