In search of the 3rd way . . .
There’s a long version and a short version. Short version goes like this . . . don’t balance the budget on the backs of the poor who can least afford it, this is the wrong plan at the wrong time, with a recession coming this doesn’t make sense, with gas prices going down we shouldn’t be raising fares in case we lose new riders, people don’t want to pay more for crappy service, long waits at the transfer points due to bad scheduling, the busses shouldn’t abandon people so that they have to walk or take a very expensive cab, the “shelters” on the square are nearly useless as shelters and please get heat at the transfer points.
Here’s the LONG version, written at the meeting last night:
It is about 6:00, the room is half full and there is a line out the door as people try to register. It doesn’t look like we’re getting started on time. On the screen are the list of bus fare increase and revenue options. Looks like there are about 55 people in the room, not counting staff and commission members. Metro staff are handing out registration slips to those who don’t have them. Mayor’s staff is sitting prominently in the front row, as opposed to in the back of the room playing on their crackberry or answering emails on their computer. Alder Clear has placed himself right by their side. Talking points are being handed out by some advocates. And things are starting to get a little bit settled down by about 5 after – though people continue to trickle in.
I have to say, this is the first time in recent history that I’ve seen enough chairs in the room and wide aisles so that those in wheel chairs can participate without causing a big distraction. There’s no one sitting on the floor or having to stand in the hallway. They are working on amplification for the microphones, which is also the first time that they have that so that everyone can hear.
Carl Durocher, the chair, finally calls the meeting at 6:05. People are upset that the mics are not working. Alder Webber is playing tech and getting Carl a better microphone. More mic problems. Alders Clear, Rhodes-Conway and Konkel are here in addition to Solomon, Sanborn and Webber who sit on the committee. Eli Judge is the only other alder I saw during the evening.
He introduced the TPC members, there are now about 80 people in the room.
Presentation – by Chuck Kamp. He basically went over the handout and notice for the public hearing. He explains that the $914K number is really $940K since they omitted the day pass revenues. Para-transit will go from $3 to $4 with still a $1 discount for not riding during peak hours. He points out they are still expecting a 1% increase in ridership.
Testimony begins –
Gene (from Teamsters Union, Local 695) – In support on behalf of employees. They find it beneficial to Madison and the community at large. If there were a status quo budget they fear a reduction in service to community and possible layoffs. All 387 employees are in support of Option 2.
Norm Littlejohn – opposed, not wish to speak. Increased fares will likely result in decrease in ridership and put the burden on those who can least afford it.
Alder Rhodes-Conway – opposition – Apologize for putting you in this position, thinks council did the wrong thing, now you have a tough decision. Believes we need to build Metro system by increasing ridership. We need to reach out to more constituencies to get more unlimited ride passes. Raising fares takes us in the wrong direction. She has two concerns – 1) Impact on working families. We’re all feeling impact of economy and it likely impacts those who are transit dependent the most. She talks about people who choose what grocery store to go to based on price and they go there by bus and you’ve already cut their service to the grocery story. 2) Also concerned about “choice riders”. We can’t just serve transit dependent riders. And there is a price point at which people will choose to drive. She thinks the $2 price may be that breaking point. She says we need to encourage these people to ride the bus because we need them. Encourages people to be creative and find an alternative way. Thank you and good luck.
Question to Alder Rhodes-Conway about how the recent route changes affect her district. She says there is a feeling that this is not sufficient. Significant dissatisfaction with the North Transfer Point and the amount of time it takes to get through there. Hard to get to Copps or Woodmans. Right now it is doable and any less would make it much harder, they really do need more service.
Carl asks: Thank you for pointing out the dilemma handed to us. Wanted to ameliorate the thought that there is a foregone conclusion that we will raise the fares. This is more than a routine formality. He asks her to elaborate on options available between fare increases and service cuts. She suggests – removing increases in metro’s budget in the base budget and in exchange not raising the fares. At the council we had other options, to look at the rest of the city budget and the levy. But they can look at not putting money into reserves this year, cut amount set aside for safety at transfer point (look at the number), take money from service improvements and marketing position. Also, cut funding for clean air action days so a little less in the hole ($40,000). The new things added to the budget this year deserve consideration.
Lisa Subeck – opposed – She emailed a copy of her proposal for reduced fares for low-income people. Represents herself and YWCA. Works with women and families most of which who are transit dependent. 50.3% of Madison Metro riders reported annual income below 25,000. Which compares to rest of city at 26%. These are the people who can least afford it. Need bus to get kids to childcare and run errands. Many can’t afford fares now. Former Alder Golden once asked her how people get the money for tickets. She answered: Panhandling. If not on the street, from friends and people they know. She suggests a low-income fare that would be the same as senior and disabled fares. The fare proposal she sent worked out the revenues. The fare would be $1.25 would people on food stamps or 150% poverty level. She also had a monthly rate pass for low-income people. If 51% of riders qualify as low income we need to make this work for them. The reasons she chose food stamps because it applies to people with or without children and doesn’t have other restriction, plus they have a food stamp card that they can show. It might be a hassle to show the card, but if students can do it, it should work for others.
Gary asks Lisa – Do most of the people use the cash fares. She says anecdotally yes. According to report they got in 2005, 31% who use cash fares are under $15,000, 28% with monthly fare reported the same. Most do not use the 10-ride card. Some of the people getting passes are getting them through W-2 or Transit for Jobs.
Amanda asks Lisa – what other systems use this? She knows there are some. She’s not an expert, and looking at this from a social justice angle. She’d prefer what former Alder Brandon talked about where they allow people to ride for free if they are low-income. She realized this might not be possible.
Margaret asks how often incomes are reviewed on food stamps – Lisa explains that there is a 6 month review of people on food stamps, however, they mostly self report changes in income.
Margaret concerned if the cards have an expiration date: Lisa is not sure.
Carl asks about day passes. Lisa says this would make sense, but the reality is that they don’t use them. She thinks a low-income fare makes more sense since we do it for seniors and disabled.
Linda Ketcham – Madison Area Urban Ministry – opposed – Thank you. Doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that they were doing route cuts to route 13. What a horrendous thought that they would cut service to the Ferris Center. Please look at alternatives, including Lisa’s proposal. When over half the ridership is low income, its outrageous that we are balancing the budget on the backs about those who could least afford it. Too bad we don’t look at Metro like other basic services – police, fire, streets, etc. She quoted someone about tax cuts to the wealthy and increases to the needy – the way the council acted you’d think that greedy are needy and the needy are greedy. She’s sure that people in this room aren’t getting increases at the same rate that the fares are increasing. If you’re on federal minimum wage and ride bus to and from work each day, only that would cost $260/yr which is a full week of salary before deductions. God help you if you need to do errands on the bus or get kids to daycare. Look at proposal presented and Alder Rhodes-Conway suggestions. Option 2 would be devastating. And even at their agency, they would see a 25% decrease in the amount of people they can serve by helping with bus tickets.
Fred Bartol – DART – Dane Alliance for Rational Transportation – opposition – A group trying to support rational multi-modal system. Raising fares is not the way to promote this. A affordable fare to everyone is intrinsic to the system. Deep tension in the notion of raising fares to increase service. This won’t have the desired affect. Revenues needed won’t materialize and we’ll be here a year or two from now looking at another 50 cents to ride the service we have now. Understands the pressure they are under. We should be willing to entertain option 1 increase, but do what you can to hold the line. Willing to forego major improvements, if you can find a way to minimize the fare increase. This would be preferable to taking us in the wrong direction with a fare increase.
Kat Byer – oppose – Small business owner and speaking on behalf of her family and other families who have chosen to be car free. Wants to speak up for those who have no voices, but also as a small business owner. Why increase a price as we go into recession. She has decreased prices to increase sales. Have they done a pricing analysis. We should study what works in Europe. Would love to see ridership increase because foot traffic equals sales – so this is good for the economic health of the city.
Michelle Beasley – In favor of fare increases, because she is a budget analyst for the State. Just moved here a year ago, partially because of the transportation which is unlike Mesa where they have cut services because they didn’t raise the fares. Husband has a part time job and is transit dependent due to sight loss and they can’t afford to have Sat and Sunday decrease. Has looked at the revenues and she thinks that they can find a mix of option 1 & 2. Why 33% increase for cash and 17% for others. Husband rides passes because have to, she rides because she wants to. In today’s economy, the ridership will likely increase regardless of the rate. She hopes there is a mix instead of proposals 1 & 2.
Tim Wong – opposed – Supports option Zero short term and option -1 long term which is to have no fares at all. He had a list of talking points:
– Gas prices are going on, so the original rationale for a bus fare is gone.
– Transit should be a public service like police, fire, garbage and recycling and libraries. Why is transit singled out for user fees.
– Alders submitted amendments that would have saved more money than the fare increase is projected to bring in, but they were lumped together and voted down with no discussion.
– Fare increase will raise little new money because history shows that it will lead to less riders.
– With deep recession looming, is this hte time for 33% raise in bus fares.
– We could be chasing away the “choice rider” and putting the price increase on the “captive” riders i.e. those with no options.
– Bringing back the 10 should not be a trade-off to raise fares.
– We should have cut roads in the capital budget to help pay for bus fares.
– We should get funding from Dane County and surrounding areas.
– Might want to look at consolidating service to where ridership is high so it is more cost effective.
– If we hired 30 new police officers, why do we need to hire security? Maybe we need to rethink the transfer points.
– He suggested cutting leaf pick up to save $1.2M.
Finally, he urged people to have the courage to stand up to the Mayor, since he can’t because he did get kicked off the TPC by the Mayor.
Melanie Foxcroft – opposed – Gas prices are down – that was the reason for this. So, we don’t need to do this. Shouldn’t balance budget on backs of poor people. Raising fees won’t increase ridership – if I have to pay $4 to go to and from work – its more convenient to jump in the car. Understands problems at transfer points, they are time consuming, extend the ride quite a bit, they are drafty, windy, uncomfortable and now becoming unsafe. Police should be used for security. Liked the old system better. Why privatize only Madison Metro. Look at transfer points and other ways to get riders – we should have a fire sale on fares.
Jane Ann Morris – opposed – Lives downtown and bikes or walks almost everywhere and sometimes busses or rents a car. Suggests lowering fee to .25. Won’t talk about environment, etc – but instead will “go positive on you”. Think about when you travel and where they do it well. Her goal is to remind people “how sweet it is” to have an integrated fully functional transportation system. Talks about composite of functioning system – arrive on airport, have choices (trains, busses and other), choices of high speed or slow trains, luxury buses or with chickens or other options like vans. You shouldn’t have to calendar your bus – in most places you don’t even have to look at the schedule becasue there is regular service. With good inergrated service you don’t have to worry about parking, security of your car, talks about eating out and shopping and going to a game without seas of parking. A good transportation system doesn’t all have to be government run – but the govt can’t actively work against it. Stop subsidizing cars and the infrastructure that they require. This is a rich community in a rich land. We’ve lost perspective we aren’t poor except when it comes to bus service and yet poor countries have better systems than we do. Our system has to be able to get you to get to work and back, you have to be able to go to a movie and back. She pointed out that the only place to rent a car one day was at airport, but no bus service there on Sunday. She says this is not an impossible task, they do it all over the world. We are not poor, we can do this.
Ron Blascoe – left – opposition
Amy Mondloch – left – opposition
Still 70 people in the room – people drifting in and out. Alder Judge has joined the listening.
Rick – Rides the bus – takes 1.5 hours to go from one spot to another spot. Some managers are getting $24,000 raises between three people – don’t ask us to support this – what is Metro going to do for us? If this is going to be a viable system – don’t just tax us, we need to look a little harder at where the money goes inside metro with driver overtime and salaries. We need to work together because people need the system.
Cynthia Schuch – opposition, not wishing to speak
Lon – opposition – not wishing to speak
Kevin – opposition – not wishing to speak
Steve – opposition – not wishing to speak – wants hybrid busses
Tom Kozlovsky – opposition – Asks some questions that he couldn’t get answers to? Are all funds retained by Metro? Are subsidies from state and fed govt earmarked for Metro or put in a transportation.
Carl explains that this isn’t a chance for dialog
Tom urges them to reject fare increase. You’re in a tough position – especially with Mayor’s threat to remove you if you do. This is an important public service like police, fire, etc. Bring back route 10. If you run out of funds, do like the streets department, go back to the council for a subsidy, if we can do it for snow. Mayor and council don’t care about busses cuz they don’t use it, but they can subsidize Monona Terrace and Overture. With the recession we can’t impact the least among us. How will this impact the schools? In a few years their budge might be out of control.
Carl remarked that tonight, for a change, we are getting public use out of the Monona Terrace. (?? – I wonder what that costs)
Richard – opposed – Why have separate adult and youth 10 ride pass, why not just do a 15 ride pass. Or let people have a quarterly pass like the students. Maybe some of the higher ups should retire to save costs. Use the kiosks at the transfer points – increase soda to $1.25 since you’re waiting way too long for the bus to come anyways. Option 1 is not too bad, option 2 is too extreme. Don’t rubber stamp option 2 – like the Mayor wants them to do – who he will be voting against – which is long over due.
Tom – opposition – not wishing to speak
Jennifer – opposition – Talked about how bus affects her on a day to day basis.
– Works 3 – 10 on Fridays – and lives out by east town – but can only get to MATC so has to walk 20 minutes to get home. She has talked to bus driver but they can’t help.
– On Saturday she works 3 – 11 – bus stops at 10:45 and has to call a cab and it costs her $25 to get home.
– Shops at Woodman’s – has to wait 45 minutes to get from East Towne to Melody Lane and Independence.
– Goes to MATC class – 8 class and doesn’t have bus service so has to walk or ride bike.
– Lived in a co-op with 6 people and 4 of them owned a car because the transit system doesn’t meet their needs.
She feels like she is forced to buy a car. Thinks we should lower the fares for an aggravation cost. She doesn’t understand why she pays $50 for a pass and she’s walking everywhere.
Dave Carrig – wouldn’t be opposed to bus fare increase if we could do Lisa’s plan. His senior rate is going up and its ok with him. However, people who are poor will be hit the hardest. You have to make $12 an hour to afford a one-bedroom. They have to eat, buy medication, etc and transportation costs are not at the top of the list, it would be nice if everyone could afford a pass at the beginning of the month and it will hit people hard. Don’t make improvements until all can afford to ride. Only then improvements should be made. Security – why is security being charged to metro when we have 30 new cops. $2 decision was made in a vacuum. We have the highest unemployment rate in 16 years. Talked about how it has been at yellow alert the last few days and that he probably shouldn’t be riding his bike. He talked about other transportation systems in other places.
Still at least 50 people in the room.
Joel – opposed – UW graduate student and regular bus rider. Hast APTA bus study – we should be expecting a 13% decrease in ridership with a 33% increase in fares. Many people in Madison are from other places and the transit systems around the country that charge $2 are much more comprehensive systems. Here, $2 will deter people for the kind of service we have here. We shouldn’t be increasing fares because it will drive away those who we need to make the system work.
Lori Hobbs- opposition – Concerns about trying to get to American Parkway clinic – has to take a cab – costs $25 to get to the GI doctors. Poor bus service at American Parkway – one bus in the morning and one in the afternoon. Alot of disability people can’t afford the bus. The office people at Metro got a new building and where is that money coming from? Why couldn’t they stay at the same building. How many more times are we going to cut bus service and raise fares? Most of your riders can’t afford the bus. Transfer points are not safe. The kids swear and cuss and throw things. South and North she doesn’t feel safe at, but East and West are ok. Transfers expire when the bus drivers are late and then we have to pay more. That’s not fair. Transfers should last longer. And some of the shelters are gone and then we have to freeze. It’s not fair for people with disabilities, or any one.
Aaron Crandall – opposition – had to leave
Lori – opposition – Thank you for letting us speak – lives out by east towne and rides bus because of eye sight and choice and wants to live a car free lifestyle for the environment and health of everyone – in order to do this, we need to have a good bus system. High fares will decrease bus riders. It impacts low-income people the most. Global warming is real. Need to invest in hybrid busses. We are in a recession – people can’t afford to drive a car and we need to think long term about the needs of everyone. We need to have other people subsidize metro – maybe have a gas tax or tax people who can afford it. They should help subsidize the bus for the common good. No fare increase for now for the economy – eventually it will have to increase so option one is the best.
David Katz – neither opposition or support
Shala Werner – opposition – As gas prices soared, bus ridership increased. If we raise fares now, since gas prices are going down, we may lose those riders. This sends the wrong message to commuters at a time when we need to reduce impact on environment. She had numbers on how stopping driving your car every day had a bigger impact than changing to CFLs, buying energy effieicnt appliances or other items. She talked about problems with air quality – increase ozone levels and increased advisories in the winter due to soot pollution. In 2001 we spend $15 per person on metro vs state spending $100 on roads. This will impact those who can afford it the least. Look at other places (another nod to SF) and look at other options to increasing the fares.
Barbara smith – opposition – It would be helpful if the hearings could be held in other parts of town and it is hard for people to get here after work and have their say. Worried about low-income folks. Goal is to the reach 1800 at most for Transit for Jobs – and it serves mostly adults. Madison has over 55,000 low income poeple who are 150% of poverty out of population of 214,000 people. 1800 is just a small fraction of the population that needs help. Plus with Transit for Jobs there is a 75 ticket limit because they don’t have enough resources in the Transit for jobs program – tickets cannot be used for groceries or medical or other needs. (Sorry, got distracted – she said more here). She said we should pressure state to get better transportation planning for employees, has concerns about drunk driving impacts of raising the fares and concerns about the environment.
Mayor’s staff goes home at 7:57 . . . .
Somebody registered in opposition but not speak – senior and disabled prices should stay the same.
Derwin Leigh – Oppostion – ridden bus since 1978 and exclusively since 1994. He says he pays more, and keeps getting promised a better service. With route 13 you pulled a bait and switch on us. Instead of cutting off the service at Ferris Center you kept that service, but now you can’t get downtown. And on the way back is that it is worse. You are asking for more money for less service. Thinks about getting up a half hour early to take the 5. University and Park is the transfer to get home and it is dark and he feels sorry for people who might feel unsafe. Transfer points need to have heat. They were asking for those kinds of things in the 80s and still don’t have them. All kinds of great ideas have been mentioned here, but nothing happens. We got stuck in this hub system and we built these transfer points – they aren’t even park and rides. With the transfer point system you get places slower than you did in the 70s – more transfer points and buses. Used to be able to go from East Towne to West Towne (A bus) and now you can’t.
Carl asked what would be most valuable – he said strings that you pull where you get 2 minutes of heat – have them at CTA in chicago – feels bad for elderly and kids.
Steven Bottila – opposition – disabled and has a service dog. Rides bus alot. And has a number of problems with drivers but that is irrelevant at the moment. Surprised that there are not alot of ideas about alternate possibilities. In Duluth – had cameras far before we did and they have bus shelters. If Metro transit could advertise at shelters and transfer points – they could get revenue that way. Have small concession stands at the transfer points. Have people pay to get some heat like you do to get air in your tires. Why bother with the rules that are posted isnce they aren’t followed, have advertising instead.
Elliot Thomas Smith – opposition – has disability. Don’t charge me more cuz I can’t afford it now. Can’t afford to go places on the weekend cuz can’t afford taxi fare home. Lives on the 13 and its hard to get downtown. Hard to get to some of the food pantries. Walking with the food is too hard. No 24 anymore so has to walk farther and his health won’t stand it. Bus shelters downtown are atrocious – they don’t have any protection against the weather. They might be pretty, but doesn’t do anyting it should do – it’s supposed to be a shelter. Rarely can go to restaurant – cuz don’t have way to get back. Can’t go to movies or the IMAX cuz no bus runs out there. Occassionally I like to save up to do something. But can’t afford it. There are others like him who are afraid to speak up, I am not alone. Doesn’t buy the disability pass all the time – sometimes needs to buy his meds, sometimes he doesn’t even buy his meds. He doesn’t want pity – he is saying it so that people understand that people need to make thise kind of choices.
Ted Voth – opposition – Compliment the Mayor for thinking seriously about Metro – except this is the wrong time to make it harder to ride metro. We need to be building a strong, frequent, convenient, safe, 24-7 bus system. Every year we’re fighting a rear guard action. Death of a thousand cuts is not the TPCs fault, but we need better ways for funding the system. Rebuke Common Council for being the Common Cowardice. Hurting those that can least afford it. Money is still being spent on roads to no where when we need metro. We don’t need to spend money to incompetent bankers and WMC. Please find the third way to avoid the fare increases. It’s the one thing that is guaranteed to cut ridership.
Don – opposition – left
David Williams – opposition – left – fare increases are a bad idea
David Toufonno – opposition – Went to CTA to find out what they are doing – now they let seniors and disabled for free because of the fare increases that they had. Tired of raising the rates. When your food stamp card expires, it won’t issue any more food stamps. They could have a gift shop – and make money that way. Drivers are not enforcing the rules. Can’t call customer service. Have to wait.
8:20
James Aldridge – opposed to increase because the economy today is hard on everybody. Car makers going out of business, people won’t be buying cars because prices increasingand looking for other ways for transportation – which means Madison metro is going to be chosen by more people. People need the buses to get around town. In the future, people won’t be able to just jump in cars as cars get more expensive. And people will be looking for ways to do this cheaper. It’s getting harder to transfer – sometimes you have to wait the amount of time that the cars can drive across town. The transfers should be 10 or 15 minuts instead of 25 or 30 minutes.
Vicky – opposed – Can’t understand why this is before you. The city and Mayor failed to show leadership. You need to stand up to the mayor. She doesn’t ride the bus because it’s too expensive for her and her three children. Its cheaper to take the car especially given the wait. The bus system is not family friendly. Would hate to think the bus fare would be a reason that kids don’t go to activities. Talked to another mother who said that if the rates go up – she’ll drive instead of have kids ride bus. These fares don’t make sense – APTA study – if you have 14% of your riders back into cars, that will make more cars and less safe for kids. The city should fund Metro fully and give free coffee to the riders because everyone benefits when others ride the bus. Her kid suffers from allergies – the more cars on the road the worse it is – he has to stay in on yellow air days. This boggles her mind that this progressive city would raise rates at this time. She walks instead of going to the west transfer point and is surprised to find out that it was one of the safer ones.
Margaret suggest she contact her alder, Thuy Pham-Remmele.
Don Ferber – opposition – This isn’t just a budget issue – it is a budget issue, but it is about the environment and sustainability. Wrong proposal at the wrong time. Putting the pig on the lipstick. This is the wrong time also because of the economy and recession. This most affects those who are already disenfranchised. When gas prices go up, ridership increases. Gas prices are going down – and people may choose to use their car. It will hurt the bus system. When fuel is dropping – maybe they should reevaluate the numbers. Why not increase parking rates to provide disincentives to drive and incentives to take the bus.
Peter Taglia – opposition – lives downtown, no car, walks, bikes, buses. How does this fit in our carbon footprint? Reducing the carbon footprint is a 3 legged stool – reduce vehicle miles, clean up cars and clean up fuels. Why are last two getting attention but not the first. The first is most effective. Vehicle miles traveled are one of the biggest things we can do to help the environment.
Margaret asks – aditional funds or places we could be looking at fed and state levels or promises of change from the new administration – he said he doesn’t work in that department, but is concerned about the projections of ridership.
Still about 30 people in the room at 8:40 beyond staff and TPC. It’s starting to get cold in here.
Brian Carlisle – opposition – went home
Al Matano – opposition – thanks Carl for comments about this not being a pre-ordained result. Procedure is as important as the substance and he is against on substance. The process is backwards – council doesn’t have the authority to set the fares. The TPCs throughout the state are supposed to be independent and safe from political whims. Mayor showed contempt for the law and underlined it by threatening to abolish the TPC. This is not us against TPC, its us in support. On the substance, we are starting the spiral of raising rates, decreasing ridership, rates have to be raised again etc etc and its a downward spiral. Gas prices going up helped us reach people who have not ridden buses before and this is a bad time to chase them away. Transport 2020 is trying to get more funding and part of getting the strength of application for funding is that we are committed to transit – but this sends the opposite message – that we’ll give money to transit when we have it but cut it in tight times. How to pay for it? Hard to tell if Council members were ignorant or feigning ignorance. They had opportunities to make cuts – but didn’t. He suggests that if the TPC rejects the mayor’s missive – council will have to amend their budget.
Carl says, we don’t know if that is what that means if they reject the fare increase.
Paul Divine – not in opposition or support – left
Laurie Randall – opposition – seems odd that the city doesn’t suppport the bus system. Has a good bike, in good health and doesn’t mind winter weather. Not everyone can do that. 30 day bus pass was a little expensive. $55 would have been alot when she worked downtown, but parking is too and hard to bike in some weather. She’s a student who can’t afford increases, she’s a student and parents do not support her. If her seg fees go up – she can’t choose not to pay them. Also, MATC also has alot of non-traditional students.
Julie – neutral – Moved to madison 2 years ago – works at Epic – rides bus every day – 4 buses during the week – 2 to work and 2 home. Can see both sides 99.9% of the people on her bus could pay double. They ride the bus because they feel like it. Suggests some zoned ridership – short distance is free or deeply discounted, longer rides pay more. Should keep fares low for low income neighborhoods and hike fares for people like her. She isn’t concerned about most people who ride her bus, but concerned about low-income people. On my buses we understand why increased fares could be good. They want security and better service. She is also a member of community car – is possible to get around by bus – doens’t want to see decrease in service, wants safe transfer points and heat and she’s willing to pay for it. Raise fares for people like me and keep them low for everyone else.
Anne Edwardson – left in opposition
Andrea – opposition – takes the bus because wants to. Moved where she was when the bus service was good – every 20 minutes – prices have gone up in 10 years and its never been the price that concerns her – its been the service that dissuades her from riding. She has become “surprisingly hardy” on her bike because of the service. This morning she rode the bus and had a HUGE surprise on the 13. She had to transfer on a 15 minute bus ride – doesn’t want to wait twice in cold and rain for a 15 minute bus ride. Price isn’t important to her – but $2 a ride – inconvenience, cold, wet just isn’t worth it. And they’ll pay for parking. You will lose riders like me. You lost my ridership over the years because of the increasing difficulty. This fee increase will pop us over to driving. This is a downward spiral – decreasing services, ride less – increased fares, ride less. We need a good service that serves more than the poor people – you also have to appeal to the middle class because they will provide you with tax support. She asks about increasing the parking prices. Robbie says yes, the are looking at that – the speaker says that is probably smart.
9:00 took a break -reorganized to allow for people who have to catch buses to go home.
Joe Lindstrom – Homeless Services Consortium Legislative Committee – opposition – In 2007 – agencies bought about 90,780 tickets including 9,000 day passes. They spend more time telling people there are no bus passes than handing them out. They spent $240, 737 spent after transit for jobs – a 30% increase will reduce tickets to 80,246. It will cost $40,286 more dollars for fewer bus tickets or they will have to cut other services. The problem is that services for low-income are scattered throughout the community – job center and doctor – Odana for soc security that all requires various transit modes and a couple tickets a day doesn’t cut it to get to food banks or personal storage. Sorry council put you in this position – prefers option 1 if you have to raise fares.
Kristin Kilmark – opposition – riding bus since learned how to use it. Will never be able to drive. Please think about not increasing the fares for senior and disabled pass. Supports bus because it helps the environment. She speaks for those who can’t and consumers with her agency. Please consider not raising the fare.
Debbie Aldridge – neutral – Disappointed in the presentation. It did not show the scenarios of the three options. No increase there would be cuts but with 50 cents increase there would be increased service. She feels like she doesn’t have information to be in support or opposition. Rides the 6 and the bus services isn’t that good and the weekend is bad – every other hour during the day and don’t run as late. Goes to the West side for medical services instead of east because you can’t get to American Parkway – husband even changed his heart doctor. Find other ways to produce revenue. Add more busses with advertising – but please leave windows alone. She says she can’t go do Hilldale anymore becasue the 6 leaves before 2 & 8 and busses don’t wait. She uses the Copps on west side of town – its easier than getting to Hilldale or Aberg. Bus shelters on the square are drafty and very cold. Hybrid buses were a good idea – but you could have picked cheaper ones – $500,000 busses looked better, but they should buy the $300,000 since the windows don’t open and we have advertising. Do the 25 cent increase if you really have to, but there are alot of people who can’t afford it. If you’re going to do cutting, be merciful because it is already pretty bad.
Jessie Driver – opposed – Truax Neighborhood Association where many live in low-income apartments. Half to most of resident have to rely on the bus and right now, in the past year there has been a cut back in bus tickets available from Joining Forces for Families. JFF cut down the tickets they are giving out to people who have to go to work or school – there are no tickets available for people for other things. It’s hard for people to get ot work. MMSD does help out for the students, but adults don’t have options. Some of us have to live on $600 to $700 a month. Very few neighbors have a vehicle. Some of his neighbors have to shop at Walgreens or Aldi’s because the buses are hard to get to. Bus stops should be lit. Bus driver told person to open their cell phone so people can be seen in the dark. Also supports heat at transfer points – says I can freeze for a few minutes, but the lighting is the big issue.
Alex Gillis – Immigrants workers union – opposition – left
Lori Wermter – written testimony – opposition – She rides the bus almost every day and opposes the fare increases and had three other suggestions to make if they increase the fare and therefore the services.
– Restore the weeknight half-hour service of the 4 bus route after 6:30.
– Restore the weeknight half-housr service of the 5 after 6:15.
– Restore the 10 is not what Mr. Kamp proposed or what the bus advocates are asking for.
Steve Vincent – opposition – Lives near East High. Rides bus so doesn’t drink and drive. Gave up packer game to be here – its in the third quarter. Opposed, not for himself, but for homeless people. Fare increases will negatively impact the homeless and agencies that provide bus passes to the homeless. Unemployment is at a record high. Raising fares will discourage people from riding the bus.
Nicholas – opposition – Too bad so many people have left. Wondering – is Metro going into bankruptcy? Instead of doing this meeting here, need to do the hearing at the university or the union. Hopes they are not paying for Monona Terrace. He pointed out that Monday, Mr. Mahoney hired 5 more people to help the sheriff. He doesn’t live here any more but this used to be a beautiful city, but city has become “reluctant to the minorities”. If you increase the bus fare there will be more car accidents because immigrants can’t get drivers licenses. He points out that we are contributing culturally. He says this is a “white made world”. He asked people to “think like a human being” and he said this is very discouraging. He says he used to be proud to come from Madisoin where we are culturally open meeting but the corporations have taken that away and that we are just feeding teh rich. He doesn’t where the poor is going. He says this shouldn’t just be about the budget, but about working together. He says that immigrants are sad and that we have to stand up – think for yourself and your family – without regard to color of skin and language.
Carl pointed out last time they had a hearing – the room was too small – they tried to find a larger and more comfortable room.
Larry orr – opposition – not here
Cory – opposition – Also lived in San Fransisco and that there is alot to learn from how they deal with their system. He is a MATC student and has a pass plus his employer gives them a pass. He wants heat at the shelters and also said that the shelters on square are useless. He says we have an opportunity with economy the way that it is, inevitiable a fare increase will happen, but this is the worst time for it to happen.
Sherry Williams – ?? – She started out by saying that all those cuts that have been made need to be restored. The bus system was great in the 1970s. She ended up walking from Stoughton Road to Fair Oaks cuz couldn’t get a bus and is glad she is physically able. She says the system is too complicated. In the 70s you didn’t need to have a book to ride the bus, you just needed to know where the stop was. She says we should put service back the way it was. Hardly any service from the square – all the busses from the square get to Cottage Grove Road after her bus leaves – so she waits for 45 minutes. She reminds people that riding the bus is not always a choice because her mom can’t take the bus to work – she can’t get there unless she walks a long way. She says they might have to raise the fare some, 50 cents is not that cool – but if you put the service back like the 80’s you’ll get the people. Currently, there are lots of odd things in the system like buses that only run on one side of the street in one direction. She got stuck by her doctors office and had to take a $20 cab to get back to work.
Margaret asked about affects of route changes – she said weekend service is worse.
Registrants – not wish to speak
Larry orr – oppose
Michael Nesbauer – oppose
Mary Lou Herman – oppose
Dace Zeps – oppose (Worthington Park NA)
David Hobbs – oppose
Mike Wyatt – oppose – written comments
Kari Erhardt – oppose – relied on public trans
Bridgit Brown – oppose – raise parking fees
Daniella – neither
Robert Fisher – avail to answer ?
Victor Williams – oppose
Martha Sagam – oppose
Thomas Babcock – oppose – project home/prairie crossing
Carol – oppose
Susan Thoele – oppose
Craig – oppose
Yvonne – oppose
Jennifer – oppose
Carlos – avail to answer ??
Colin Cameron – oppose, works with Street Pulse
?? –oppose – high school student
Amy – oppose
Morgan Sharpe – oppose
Mr. Cosby – E Mifflin st – oppose
Commission will meet December 9th and will take this and all other info and figure out their options.
All I’ve got to say is . . . the people who ride the bus, know what they want. And are very articulate in telling TPC how to improve services, we need to listen to these people and act on their suggestions.
