Transit company seeks approval for 50 percent fare increase
It could take a few more nickels and dimes to ride the Big Blue Bus if the city council approves a fare increase tonight
The city-owned mass-transit operator is seeking a 50 percent increase in the average adult fare from 50 to 75 cents.
In addition, bus officials want to increase the $1.25 fare for the Line 10 Express Bus to downtown Los Angeles to $1.75.
“If this passes city council, the Big Blue Bus would still be the least expensive transit system in the region,” said Dan Dawson, a Big Blue spokesman. “We have been the least expensive system for 20 years, and even with the fare increase we would maintain that edge.”
Another proposal would not require a fare increase but would eliminate all local bus transfers, which historically have been free. If that plan is approved, the company also would create a $2 all-day bus pass meant to alleviate some of the burden.
But company officials dislike the transfer plan because the financial burden would be placed entirely on the 16 percent of daily riders who utilize the transfer service, Dawson said.
The first option “distributes the burden of the fare increase to all riders, so that not just one group would shoulder the burden,” he said.
“And internally for us, it provides the greatest economic security, meets economic projections for a long time period, (and) would prevent us from having to do another rate hike for the longest amount of time.”
The Big Blue Bus has not increased fares since 1983, though the average cost per rider has increased from 66-cents to $1.49 since then. If the current fare is adjusted for inflation, it would be approximately 86 cents.
Some elected officials said that if at all possible, they would like to prevent a fare increase.
Councilman Ken Genser has argued that the Big Blue Bus should explore more options that would allow the company to continuing offering the same low fare.
“I still have some concerns,” he said. “My motivation is to try to keep the 50-cent fare — even if it means making adjustments in other parts of the fare structure.”
Councilman Richard Bloom — who rides the bus to work three to four times a week — said he understood the need to raise bus fares. However, he is concerned about the affect it would have on some areas of his constituency.
454,“Even though the out of pocket might be relatively small, for people on fixed incomes that’s a big chunk of change,” he said.
Besides fares, the Big Blue Bus helps pay for its operating expenses through revenue from advertisements that appear on its buses.
Currently, the Big Blue is re-negotiating its advertising contract. If approved, the new contract with Viacom Outdoor would bring in almost $500,000 more than the existing $6 million contract with Gateway Outdoor Advertising.
That money would help stave off future fare increases.
“My concern is that we not exclude people from using the bus because the whole objective is to make sure it is as widely accessible as possible,” Bloom said. “I know I’ll continue to ride it regardless, but I can afford the fare increase.
“I’m riding every day with people who might not be able to afford it.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2002. Read the original PDF.