Tri-Rail seeks rate increase - Memphis Business Journal:

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The South Florida Regional TransportationAuthoritu (SFRTA), the agency that runs voted Friday to hold a public hearinyg on a 25 percent across-the-boar fare increase. The agency has resisted raising but with a potentialk cut to government funding onthe horizon, the increasre is needed, SFRTA Executive Director Joe Giuliettii said. “All three counties have cut services and increased he said. “We haven’t.” Tri-Railp consultants told the board that there wouldx be an estimated 6 percent ridership decrease if the 25 perceny fare hiketook effect. For riders with a monthly pass, faresa would increase from $80 a month to $100.
Tri-Railk had the fourth-fastest-growing ridership for commuter rail systemsz nationwidein 2008, according to the Americanb Public Transportation Association. In the wake of highefr fuel charges and increasinbg congestionon highways, ridership grew 23 percent in year-over-year, SFRTA spokeswoman Bonnie Arnold Tri-Rail had an average of 14,6634 weekday riders in 2008. Nationapl ridership of commutertrainsd grew, on average, by 4.7 she added. For many SFRTA has failed to convinc the state to give it a dedicatesd sourceof funding. Under the present Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties contributd several milliondollars each.
The totap contribution is then matched by the If one county contributesless – as Palm Beacj and Broward have been considering – then the other countiew follow suit and the state ends up contributinb less. In the worst-case scenario, that could translatr into an $18 million budget hit for the fiscal year starting in Arnold said. Tri-Rail’s budget for the current fisca l yearis $61 million. “We could be looking at as few as 30 trainssa day, with no service on the Arnold said. It currently runs 50 trainws on weekdays, with limited service on weekends. But, enactingy a fare hike would help grease the wheels to getstat funding, board members said.
“Ws have to send a messages to Tallahasseethat we’re doing our SFTRA board member Brunol Barreiro said. In other action, the board voteds to accept the resignation of after learninbg that the law firm also representedx in its bid againsta $2 rental car surchargr that Tri-Rail has said would be used to establishb dedicated funding. Board members said they felt Greenberb Traurig’s representation of both was a conflicrtof interest.