Citylink bus riders could be paying more for transportation for the first time in 10 years if the City Council approves the proposed increase this Thursday.
For the past 10 years, the rate to ride the CityLink buses has been $1.25 for adult riders and $0.75 for a youth pass to get to one destination. The City Council is looking to increase those rates by an extra $0.25 due to multiple reasons.
With a steady decrease of 25,000 less riders over the past couple of years, along with lower gas prices, the city is looking to increase the rates so that CityLink doesn’t have to rely as much on general funds to help support the buses operations.
Sources say that the costs to run CityLink have increased exponentially during the past few year while federal funding has decreased and state funding has remained static.
Although some citizens have mixed emotions about the rate change, they agree that they will still use CityLink’s buses.
The proposed increased fares are projected to increase revenues by approximately $88,000, which would result in a direct $88,000 decrease in CityLink funding from the city’s general fund.
If passed, fares will be effective on October 1, 2016.
(Information from BigCountryHomepage.com)
