Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 28, 1990 TAG: 9004280368
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The bus company has proposed increasing the regular fare from 75 cents to $1 and the discount fare for elderly and handicapped passengers from 35 to 50 cents.
The student fare would increase from 40 to 50 cents. The cost for a monthly pass would go from $25 to $28.
Free transfers between buses would be eliminated.
Valley Metro's last fare increase was in 1982, when the fare was raised from 60 to 75 cents.
Valley Metro plans to distribute fliers to passengers next week. A public hearing is to be held May 15.
The budget committee for the bus company is to make a recommendation to council in June. Council, in its capacity as directors of the transit company, would make the final decision.
Despite the higher fares, passengers who use the buses regularly could save money through several new types of weekly passes that would provide unlimited trips:
An $8 weekly pass for regular adult passengers, which would replace the 10-ride ticket now offered for $7.
A $4 unlimited weekly pass for elderly and handicapped passengers. It would replace the 10-ride ticket now offered for $3.25 for trips between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays and all day Saturday.
A $4 unlimited weekly pass for students.
Children 6 and younger would continue to ride free, Mancuso said.
Mancuso said that without a weekly or monthly pass, transfers at Valley Metro's terminal in Campbell Court downtown would cost the regular $1 cash fare.
"We are trying to encourage passengers to buy passes so they would not have to pay to transfer," Mancuso said.
by CNB