Will Reduced Transit Fares Bring Back Bus Riders?

"Average weekday trips have fallen to 101,039 on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses from last July through March 31, a dramatic downturn from six years ago at the peak of the dot-com boom, when 152,708 daily trips were taken Monday through Friday."

"VTA will discuss a plan Friday, April 27, to lower fares for nearly all riders, changes that if adopted would run counter to what many transit agencies across the Bay Area and the nation are doing. An adult day pass would fall from $5.25 to $5, youth passes from $4.50 to $4.00, while the cost of monthly passes for the elderly and disabled would drop from $26 to $20." The passes are valid on light rail as well.

"VTA officials estimate lowering fares will cost the agency $1.1 million a year, but could boost ridership by 2 percent and help offset the loss of revenue. The remainder will be covered by sales tax receipts from the improving economy, but the focus is on long-term ridership growth."

"The plan to cut fares surprised transit officials, with Virginia Miller, a spokeswoman for the American Public Transportation Association in Washington, D.C., saying Thursday that "off the top of my head, I don't recall" other agencies chopping the price of a ticket."