The Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has released his 2009 proposed budget. Once again we are faced with another $0.25 base fare increase (due to the rising cost of fuel). This would put the base fare for MCTS at a record high in the US, our base fare would now be MORE THAN ANY OTHER PEER OR LARGER SYSTEM IN THE US!

In 2001: Cash fares increased from $1.35 to $1.50 • Adult tickets & passes increased from $10.50 to $11.00 • Flyer surcharge increased from $0.25 to $0.30

In 2002: Adult tickets & passes increased from $11.00 to $12.00

In 2004: Cash fares increased from $1.50 to $1.75 • Adult tickets & passes increased from $12.00 to $13.00

In 2006: Adult tickets and passes increased from $13.00 to $14.00 • Flyer surcharge increased from $0.30 to $0.50

In 2007: Adult tickets and passes increased from $14.00 to $16.00

In 2008: Cash fares increased from $1.75 to $2.00 • Flyer surcharge increased from $0.50 to $0.75

In 2009: Cash fares are proposed to increase from $2.00 to $2.25 • Adult tickets and passes are proposed to increase from $16.00 to $16.50

At a time when higher fuel costs should signal us to invest in MORE mass transit so that people can find relief from high fuel prices, we continue to damage out existing transit systems through fare increases and service cuts. While there are no service cuts proposed in this budget, being known as the transit system with the highest fare in the country will do nothing to help promote our regional economy in a good light to new businesses and residents.

Attached is a sheet listing the fares for all peer and larger systems througout the US. It is interesting to note that of the 17 cities listed with fares of $1.60 or higher, the only cities with no form of rail transit (light rail, heavy rail, or commuter rail) are Milwaukee and Orlando.

There are 3 things that you can do to help:

1) Contact Scott Walker and/or your Milwaukee County Supervisor and urge them adopt a 2009 budget with NO FARE INCREASES OR SERVICE CUTS FOR MCTS!
(See the links on the left for contact information)

2) Go vote on November 4th, 2008. Vote YES on the advisory referendum to provide MCTS with a stable source of funding, if this referendum does not pass we could see even worse service cuts and fare increases in the near future!

3) Contact your federal legislatures and tell them that the federal government needs to step up and provide more federal funding to mass transit at a time when America needs it the most! To search for your federal representatives for contact information Click here

Attachments:

Fares.pdf

[Table showing MCTS fares and the fares of all peer and larger systems in the US]

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