|
Riding a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus is likely to soon cost a quarter more, increasing from $1.50 to $1.75. Realistically, the fare probably should double — or more. That comment is not intended to be unsympathetic to those who ride buses out of necessity, to whom a $1.50 fare is a burden. It is a criticism of the abysmal lack of foresight that persists throughout the Tampa Bay area when public transportation is considered.
The proposed PSTA fare hike certainly is no surprise, considering motorists are seeing gasoline prices increasing by that amount every few weeks. The response has been to bring a surge of new riders to the bus system. Ridership is estimated to have increased by 10 percent this year alone, coming on the heels of a similar increase last year. Given a clear demand — perhaps even mandate — from the public, the PSTA is planning to reduce service on 22 routes. No service expansion has been proposed. Of course, there is a rationale for this insanity. Voters approved a different mandate in January when they approved a cut in property taxes. With nearly 70 percent of its budget coming from property taxes, PSTA’s board indeed is in a very difficult situation.
Nonetheless, there may never have been a better opportunity to promote greater usage of the bus system by improving and extending service. The
PSTA in March took delivery on 27 new, clean-burning buses, replacing
about 10 percent of its fleet. The new buses meet stricter federal emission standards and promise to substantially change the image of buses as noisy and smoke-belching. Plans to replace or retrofit the remainder of the fleet are in jeopardy because of the budget crunch. Again, transit officials have difficult choices to make, but the greatest service that could be provided the public would be greater frequency of service and smooth integration of routes to allow convenient transfers. If that means continued use of older buses, do so.
It all comes back to what riders can, should and will pay. Certainly there is a greater public good at work in having a public transportation system,
which justifies using property taxes to help subsidize the system. But in a
time when $3.50 barely buys a gallon of gasoline, which propels the average automobile about 20 miles, that same amount of money still will buy an all-day, unlimited ridership pass on the PSTA buses. That is a great bargain — offset only be the fact that it may take all day to get anywhere because of infrequent service or awkward route transfers. The public will pay more, should pay more, if it receives a higher level of service.
Programs already in place allow discounts for senior citizens and disabled riders. Those discounts should remain in place or even be increased. In addition to all-day usage passes, riders can purchase 31-day unlimited usage passes for about $1.50 per day. A new program even allows the online purchase of passes with debit or credit cards. Most of the pieces are in place. The time is right to provide a viable public transit service, but it must come by expanding service, not cutting it.
|
Front Page 
Op-Ed 
