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Transit NewsWatch | July 9, 2009
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Caltrain cuts 8 trains from schedule, hikes parking fees
San Mateo County Times
Caltrain officials on Thursday eliminated eight trains from the agency's weekday schedule and hiked parking fees by 50 percent to balance the rail line's budget. The Caltrain board of directors also increased prices for the employer-sponsored GO Pass, and the board was told its long-awaited plans to electrify the rail line will likely be delayed because of budget cutbacks. The changes mark an end to several months of public outreach and anxiety since the agency announced it would make cuts as a result of state funding reductions and ridership losses.
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Transit riders ante up on 1st day of fare hikes
San Francisco Chronicle
The San Francisco Municipal Railway, BART, AC Transit and Golden Gate ferry and buses boosted fares to help close swelling budget deficits. The cost of a basic one-way ferry ride, without any discounts, went up to $7.85, a 40-cent increase. Golden Gate increased fares 5 percent.
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BART riders can’t rely on other transit
San Francisco Business Times
More than 300,000 Bay Area commuters will be without a ride if BART employees strike, but the region’s other major transit agencies are not planning to deploy more vehicles to capture the demand. AC Transit, SamTrans and others said that budget limitations keep them from putting more buses, trains or ferries into service if BART workers walk out.
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Transit Under Attack From Highway Sympathizers, as Usual
Curbed SF
California recently tried to take away $1 billion (billion!) in gas-tax funds from transit -- but no, the 3rd district court of appeal just ruled, the state can't do that. Voters approved the gas tax specifically to fund buses and trains, but so far Arnold's stolen $152 million from Muni, and $30 million from BART last year alone. The governor plans to appeal the ruling; so when fares to go up and buses break down, you know who to blame. Sadly, though, life is still difficult for our local transit agencies. California got $2.6 billion to spend on transportation in the stimulus package, and a new study shows that so far the money's going towards sprawl and freeways, rather than to mass transit.
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www.caltransit.org // p. 916.446.4656 // f. 916-446-4318
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