Public Asked to Give Input on Potential Fare Changes

Contact:
Susan Tierney
Public Information Officer
602.262.7433

PHOENIX (Dec. 9, 2008) – Valley Metro, the regional public transit agency, is hosting public hearings and a webinar to receive the public’s input on proposed changes to the fare structure that guides the price of bus service (local, regional, express and RAPID), Phoenix and East Valley ADA Dial-a-Ride and METRO light rail service. Public hearings encourage riders and interested individuals to give input on the proposed fare changes. A final recommendation will be presented to city councils as required and the Valley Metro Board of Directors in early 2009.

The last fare change occurred in December 2007, which included the elimination of transfer. Current proposed fare changes are due to a decline in sales tax revenues that fund a majority of transit service in the Valley.  The proposed fare changes include a fare increase of up to $1.00 on a one-ride local fare that is currently $1.25 and price increases on the all-day, 3-day, 7-day and 31-day passes. The new fares could be in effect in July 2009.

Comments are being accepted through January 24, 2009 in the following ways: public hearings, webinar (meeting held via the internet), email, customer service phone line, and written responses mailed to Valley Metro RPTA. Details are given below.

Webinar
The webinar was held on January 8th at 10:00 am - thank you to those who attended! 
If you were unable to attend, the link below is a recording of the proposed fare changes webinar.  At the conclusion of the video, please wait for an online survey and comment form, which will appear on your screen (please enable the pop-up window).

View Recorded Webinar
NOTE: Please turn on your computer speakers to hear audio from this webinar. You will also need the most recent Adobe Flash browser plug-in to view the webinar. Click here to download the Adobe Flash plug-in

Regional Transit Fare Policy Public Hearings
Times for all Meetings:

Open House begins at 5:30 p.m. (with the exception of the meeting on January 15)
Public Hearing presentations and public input starts at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009
Avondale City Council Chambers
11465 W. Civic Center Dr.
Avondale, AZ 84323

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009
Tempe Transportation Center
Community Room
200 E. 5th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009
Grace United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
2024 E. University Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85213

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009
Sunnyslope Community Center
802 E. Vogel Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009
South Mountain Community College
Student Union
7050 W. 24th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85042

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009*
Maricopa Association of Governments
Suite 200, Saguaro Room
302 N. 1st Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
*Open house begins at 12:30 p.m. and the public hearing begins at 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22 , 2009
Glendale City Council Chambers
5850 W. Glendale Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85301

Other methods to give input on the proposed fare changes:

• Email comments to fares@ValleyMetro.org
• Customer Service will accept comments at 602-253-5000
• Written comments can be sent to:

Valley Metro RPTA
Attn: Fare Program Manager
302 N. 1st Ave. Ste. 700
Phoenix, AZ 85003

To arrange disability accommodations, contact Rosalia Lopez at Valley Metro by calling 602-534-6331 or send an email to rlopez@valleymetro.org.

  Valley Metro/RPTA is an organization of 14 local governments that provides or funds transit services to citizens in the greater Phoenix metropolitan and surrounding areas. For more information about Valley Metro public transit services, call Transit Information at (602) 253-5000; for callers with TTY (602) 261-8208; or visit the Valley Metro website at www.ValleyMetro.org.
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