Bargain Bus Rides

The Washington Post
Friday, May 12, 2000 ; A46

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is attracting more and more users across the country.
Smart transit officials are encouraging the trend by offering more
convenience at lower fares, or no fares at all. That's the tack Montgomery
County is trying; this week the county council approved proposals to cut
fares by 44 percent for multi-trip passes on the Ride-On bus system. Under
the plan, which still must survive budget reconciliation measures to be
acted upon next week, the cost of a 20-trip or two-week pass will drop from
$18 to $10.

In addition, the council gave preliminary approval to express bus service
between Frederick and Rock Spring Park, using HOV lanes on I-270; more
shuttle runs between the Garrett Park MARC station and Rock Spring Park;
and additional matching-fund subsidies to companies that help pay transit
fares for their employees.

The proposals, billed as an experiment, are aimed at getting more people
out of their cars and improving air quality. The county-operated Ride-On
system carries about 60 percent of the county's bus ridership. The rest is
served by Metro, which is not subject to the fare-cutting program but which
could undergo similar fare reductions if the county chose to subsidize
them. As member Ike Leggett noted in voting for the proposals, the council
should be prepared to move the Ride-On fares back up if the changes don't
produce satisfactory results. Even success may prove expensive; more riders
could require more buses. After Metro simplified its bus fare system and
eliminated transfer fees last June, daily ridership increased by about 13
percent in four months.

The county council staff estimates that the fare reduction would mean a
loss of $2 million to $3 million in annual revenue for the county--hardly a
devastating blow to the budget, if that figure holds. County Executive Doug
Duncan says he's open to the idea but is concerned about costs and the
impact of the changes on equipment needs. He makes another point that ought
not be lost in any expansion of transit service in this region: that it
must be coupled with serious commitments to build roads.

                    © 2000 The Washington Post Company