MORE: New RTA partnership to establish service for rural customers
The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the possible changes during meetings Tuesday, Nov. 14, and by phone and email.
“Nothing is set in stone,” said RTA spokeswoman Jessica Olson. “We want to make sure that our riders have a chance to let us know what they would like to see and share any ideas they might have to help us with our budget as well as preserve as many services as possible.”
Among the considerations to meet the shortage — about 6.2 percent of RTA’s annual revenue — is a hike in fares from $1.75 to $2. Although an across-the-board standard fare increase would not make up for the loss, Olson said some routes could potentially be preserved. Promotional fares that discourage the use of cash, which jams fare boxes leading to many road calls and stalled buses, are also being examined.
MORE: RTA to allow guns on buses
Olson said not all of the steps proposed — including cutting some weekend services — would need to be implemented to bridge the funding gap.
“It would not be an all-of-the-above approach,” she said. “We have more options listed than we need to cut.”
The routes targeted for elimination or reduced service represent about eight percent of current service hours but were selected because they are among the least productive, Olson said.
Any changes to fares or routes would take effect no earlier than early February, according to the RTA, which currently maintains 3,300 stops on 35 routes throughout Montgomery County and parts of Greene County.
Transit authorities as well as county governments — including Montgomery County — were tripped up by the federal change preventing the sales tax disbursement.
RELATED: Montgomery County faces $9M revenue loss
Efforts by transit authorities and the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio to work with state lawmakers and the governor’s office to secure a federal waiver or agree to an alternative funding mechanisms ran into dead ends preventing a permanent fix.
“While we are very active in trying to find a solution that would secure this funding, in the long-term we also have be prepared for the possibility that a fix would not be found,” said Olson.
A temporary arrangement allows counties to receive the tax revenue through 2018.
Olson said the state indicated some lump-sum payments would come RTA’s way in order to weather the short-term, but to date no payments have been received.
“We want to ensure that we have options in place if we are not getting that revenue,” she said.
RTA public meetings
Nov. 14
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Wright Stop Plaza, 4 S. Main St., Dayton
Second floor multi-purpose room
Comments can be made verbally in person or by calling 937-425-8339 or in writing to speakup@greaterdaytonrta.org
Proposed RTA changes
Route elimination
The following routes could be eliminated:
- X1A
- X1B
- Route 40
- Route 41
- Route 61
- Limited Service – Meadowdale, Belmont, Thurgood Marshall and Dunbar (June 2018)
Service day(s) elimination
Routes could have certain service days eliminated:
- Route 23 (Saturday & Sunday)
- Route 60 (Saturday & Sunday)
- Route 11 (Sunday)
- Route 19 (Sunday)
- Route 22 (Sunday)
- Route 24 (Sunday)
Other Service Reductions and Changes –
- Proposed elimination of several weekday and weekend trips on city and county routes.
- Connect paratransit customers outside ADA service area are provided countywide services as a result of service reductions (where applicable).
Fare Recommendations
RTA is also recommending the potential implementation of several fare increases and changes to begin in February 2018, including:
- Elimination of transfers
- Elimination of change cards
- Elimination of tokens
- Elimination of family and weekend pass
- Implementation of the discounted $4 day pass; includes two free qualifying children with each adult who purchases a day pass
- Increase fare to $2 per boarding for cash/coin adult paying customers
- Implement a $2 day pass for reduced fare customers
- Increase fare to $1 per boarding for cash/coin reduced fare paying customers
- Increase paratransit ticket to $4 per boarding
About the Author
