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Major Ride On fare cuts pass hurdle

by Steven T. Dennis
The Gazette Staff Writer
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May 5, 2000

A Montgomery County Council committee voted 3-0 to cut some Ride On fares by 44 percent Thursday -- a move that would save regular riders up to $208 a year if approved by County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and the full council.

The proposal would cut the cost of two-week passes and 20-ride passes from $18 to $10, or 44 percent. Single rides would remain unchanged at $1.10.

Deputy Council Staff Director Glenn Orlin proposed the fare cut because it would encourage people to get out of cars and because it would return money back to the low- and middle-income residents who typically use buses.

Orlin guessed that the proposal would cost up to $3 million in lost revenue, but that would depend on how many riders take advantage of the program. If the program attracted many new riders, the costs would be lower.

The Transportation and Environment Committee backed Orlin's proposal, although Chairman Isiah Leggett (D-At large) of Burtonsville said he wanted to know when the county would know if the lower fares were attracting new riders.

Orlin also suggested extending the cheaper passes to Metrobus service as well, but that would require the agreement of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority which runs Metro.

Duncan (D) ultimately has the authority to set fares, Orlin said.

The committee also agreed to consider a proposal by Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg to eliminate bus fares as a way of easing traffic congestion.

Carolyn Biggins, the county's division chief for transit, told the council that transportation officials do not know of any other jurisdiction that has completely eliminated bus fares and do not know for sure what the effects would be. But she predicted that the county would need to buy more buses and hire more drivers to meet the additional demand.

The council also tentatively approved a new express bus from Frederick City to Rock Spring Park in Bethesda at a cost of $200,000 (half of which would be expected from the state) and $50,000 for a new shuttle from the Garrett Park MARC station to Rock Spring Park.

It also tentatively approved $100,000 to subsidize service for new transit riders in North Bethesda.

The committee also did not choose to eliminate the Rockville Pike lunch shuttle for now, even though it carries just 100 to 150 passengers a day. The service costs $280,000 a year, or $5,400 a week. Biggins said the county will try to increase ridership by extending the shuttle to the Grosvenor Metro station.
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