by davinp
The transit agency raised fares 3 percent in July and plans to raise them again Jan. 5, this time 7 percent. It is the first time the agency raised fares in the middle of a fiscal year. Straub said the agency had to pay a large settlement and didn’t anticipate the summer’s high fuel prices.
“It was disappointing that we had to do it,” she said, “because we really take a lot of time and care to put forth a balanced budget.”
But later this week, she said, VRE officials plan to discuss whether to raise fares another 6 percent in July.
Dunham said the fare increases are outpacing many riders’ pay raises. “We sympathize, but there really is need for a long-term stable funding source in Virginia,” he said.
VRE doesn't have a dedicated source of funding, and since the local subsidies can't pay more, they rely on customers to balance the budget. Unfortunately, this makes VRE fares more expensive than MARC
http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/122208- ... ummer.html
“It was disappointing that we had to do it,” she said, “because we really take a lot of time and care to put forth a balanced budget.”
But later this week, she said, VRE officials plan to discuss whether to raise fares another 6 percent in July.
Dunham said the fare increases are outpacing many riders’ pay raises. “We sympathize, but there really is need for a long-term stable funding source in Virginia,” he said.
VRE doesn't have a dedicated source of funding, and since the local subsidies can't pay more, they rely on customers to balance the budget. Unfortunately, this makes VRE fares more expensive than MARC
http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/122208- ... ummer.html