The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

RTA will not cut late night, elderly bus service

High school seeing results
New 2 min. ago
Xenia mother charged with child endangering
5:00 p.m.
Hearing postponed in alpaca case
4:58 p.m.
Washington Twp. woman charged with assault of police officer
4:45 p.m.
Suspect sought in ‘vicious’ fatal assault
4:40 p.m.
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer Updated 1:34 AM Thursday, June 18, 2009

DAYTON — Proposals to cut late night and elderly bus service are scuttled in the final draft of a deficit-reduction plan being considered by the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.

The plan also includes adopting the lower of two fare increase proposals, including a 25 cent increase in adult bus to $1.75 according to Mark Donaghy, executive director. That would make RTA’s adult fare the highest of transit systems serving Ohio’s six largest cities.

The RTA finance and planning subcommittees will consider the final plan on June 23 and decide whether to forward it to the full board or to modify it.

The changes are needed to offset a projected $3.1 million projected general fund deficit, which is mostly due to plunging sales tax revenues. Year-to-date sales tax receipts are down 12 percent.

The proposed fare increase would boost annual revenues by $1.25 million and the service cuts would save $3.2 million annually, down from the $4.7 million RTA would have saved had the original plan been adopted, Donaghy said.

If the board votes as expected on July 7, the changes could be in place as early as Aug. 1, Donaghy said.

“We have no desire to reduce service at all. We’d like to be in a position to add service, because the demand is there,” he said. “This is simply a matter of finding a way to pay the bills for the rest of the year.”

He said RTA has seen a long decline in revenues and has responded with cuts in administration, a 2007 service reduction and a 2008 fare increase. He said the financial challenge will continue until revenues improve. RTA received $13.3 million in federal stimulus money, but only $3 million can be used for general fund costs. Federal law requires that the rest go to buy buses.

Donaghy said the scaled-down final service cut proposal was developed in response to strong opposition to the original plan from elderly riders and the second and third shift riders who need the late buses to get to and from work.

The new proposal cuts service by 9 percent annually, down from the 12 percent cut envisioned in the first draft, Donaghy said.

He worries that fare increases and service cuts could translate into decreased ridership, which could hurt revenues.

Each day about 40,000 bus trips are taken in RTA vehicles; last year total ridership was 11.2 million. About 62 percent of riders use the bus for work and 13 percent to get to school, according to RTA statistics.

Under the new proposal all types of fares would increase except transfers, which will remain at 25 cents. The discounted fare for seniors, the disabled and children aged 12 and under would increase to 85 cents from 75 cents. Monthly passes would increase to $55 from $45 for adults. Discounted passes would cost $32, up from $28. Project Mobility would cost increase to $3.50, up from $3 per ride.

The plan would continue service on routes 65 and 66, the senior citizen routes originally slated to be discontinued. Elderly riders strongly objected to that change, saying it is difficult for them to walk to regular stops and to the stores and medical offices they visit. The Senior Citizens On the Town route still would be eliminated under the revised plan.

Plans to eliminate 11:15 p.m. or 12:30 a.m. trips on more than a dozen routes also met with strong opposition from workers. That service is restored in the latest plan.

The plan also calls for eliminating route 32 and reducing the frequency of service on routes 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 24, and X-5.

The number of trips will be reduced on routes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 24, 34, 61 and limited service.

Donaghy said he anticipates board debate over the latest proposal and there could be changes.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Assinine ain't no bad word white-boy. You an idiot!

Nappy Dug Out Go Getta
12:27 PM, 6/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

It's sad that the drunk Mayor will now have no way to get home late at night after her hat bazars.

Mayor
11:26 AM, 6/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

If those that plan the bus routes had to actually RIDE the bus from the South & East outskirts, there would be changes in those routes. If I want to go from Centerville to Huber to work and get there by 7AM...forget it. Not happening.
The rescheduling of routes 12 & 11 is good, if implemented right.
Decreasing the 8 & 9 routes is trickier, there's always riders on those.

Whitey-on-Da-Bus
8:31 AM, 6/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

As far as 'catering to the blacks', that's an a$$inine statement. The buses that service the North, West & North West are always WAY more full than the East & South. I'm no fan of RTA, but that's the truth. Greg Cline IS right about the service in the South, too. I know, I live in Centerville.

Whitey-on-Da-Bus
8:26 AM, 6/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Catering to a few "special needs" riders (the grocery bus for old people and late buses) causes RTA to loose millions and they don't care. Sometimes you have to make BUSINESS decisions! Ending service for a few to save money so that the RTA doesn't go broke and end service for ALL only makes sense. You can't cater to every single person in Dayton! The old people won't starve-they will find another way to get to the grocery.

Makes Sense
4:22 AM, 6/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 6 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.