|
|
||
FRED transfers will cost 25 cents, starting July 1 Date published: 6/18/2007
FREDericksburg Regional Transit will charge 25 cents to transfer buses starting the week of July 1.
It's the first time FRED has adjusted fares since it began operating in 1996. A ride without transfer will remain 25 cents. The new charge only applies when riders want to switch from one route to another. Transfers have previously been free. Finances forced a change. During the last fiscal year, FRED only recovered about 3 percent of its $2.6 million budget from fares. Compared with percentages at city bus systems in Blacksburg, Charlottesville and Richmond, where single trips can range from 75 cents to $1, "We were clearly at the low end," said Arnold Levine, FRED senior adviser. "One of the main reasons that underlay the review was perceived need to have those who use the service contribute more to the expenses," Levine said. FRED reported 354,000 "unlinked trips" in 2006, which is the number of people who boarded a FRED bus. This counts some riders twice, since passengers who transfer are boarding two buses on their trip. Between 45 and 50 percent of riders transfer, Levine said. The new transfer fare of 25 cents was recommended by the Public Transit Advisory Board, which has representatives from each jurisdiction served by FRED. Fredericksburg City Council approved the elimination of free transfers at its Tuesday night meeting. "This review and modest adjustment of fare policy was long overdue," said Kathleen Beck, FRED transit manager, in a press release. "Roughly half of our customers will experience no change in what they pay, since they do not transfer between bus routes. The other half of our customers, who routinely transfer between buses, will pay an additional 25 cents each time they transfer. Even those who will be paying 50 cents for their end-to-end ride on FRED will still be getting the best deal in town." Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
To say the bus routes are a joke is an understatement. $.25 for a transfer, big deal but the routes are horrible. I took the bus about a week ago (with transfers) and it took me 6 hours to get to and from a 20 minute appointment (which was 8 minutes away). I had a 21 month old with me and a stroller. Getting on and off the bus was terrible. No help except sometimes from other riders. Two hours between buses, it was awful. FRED needs to create more routes and add more busses for less wait time.
People who do not know what they are talking about should keep their mouths shut. It takes more than just what Fred collects in fares to operate the bus line, and if more were put in by partners and the government agencies then maybe Fred could buy more equipment and improve service. As it stands now, all the jurisdictions served seem to want something for nothing. Util that changes, Fred will remain pretty much the way it is. By the way, door to door is not an option for a bus company!
Fred really needs to look at routes that travel "out", on one side of the road and "returns" on the other side of the street. Buses schedule that coincide with the opening and closing of store hours and also schedules that exist during the weekends.
Fred needs to be useful for more than a feather in the cap of City council. In there times of high fuel costs Fred could really serve the community better that it does.
Fred recovered 3% of the 2.6 million dollar budget and FRED builds a Taj Mahal for it's self?
Has Fredericksburg ever stepped back and really asked Fred why it only sees 345,000 (maybe) riders per year? The bus routes are a joke. The routes make the bus unrealistic for anyone to use them for transportation to or from work, a simple ride to the mall or central park becomes a “bob and weave” version of the incredible voyage.
Isn't it time that Fred create some realistic bus routes?
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
