New Fares for Bus and Rail Transit on July 1. Advance purchases help bus riders save money.
Phoenix, AZ (June 1, 2009) Bus and rail fares are increasing on Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Riders are asked to plan ahead, especially for purchasing an All-day bus fare. Passengers who purchase an All-day pass at a light rail platform fare vending machine or at one of 80 select locations and stores prior to boarding a local bus can save $1.75 off of the on-board bus full-fare price.
The cost for a one-ride trip on the Valley Metro local bus, METRO light rail and the LINK bus (limited-stop service between Superstition Springs Center and Sycamore Station in Mesa) will now cost $1.75, and an All-day pass is $3.50. Purchasing an All-day pass at the farebox on the local/LINK bus will cost $5.25. An express bus or RAPID (commuter bus service) all-day pass will be $5.50 in advance, or $7.25 at the farebox.
Other day passes and reduced day passes will also increase except for the 7-day pass. A passenger purchasing a 7-day pass will get seven days of rides for the price of five. Getting on the bus with pre-purchased fares, such as an All-day, 3-day, 7-day, or 31-day pass means faster boarding, which helps keep the bus on schedule.
“We understand the financial burden this places on our bus and rail passengers in the Valley and we’d prefer that the fares weren’t going up,” said David A. Boggs, Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) executive director. Valley Metro’s funding is based on sales tax revenues, which has declined significantly while the cost to provide service continues to increase.
To keep pace with bus/light rail fares, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Dial-a-Ride fares for East Valley and Phoenix are increasing. Please see a complete listing of fare prices effective July 1 or go to valleymetro.org.
Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, a bio-diesel Dial-a-Ride fleet, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system. www.ValleyMetro.org
(Please note: RailLife.com is not associated with Metro Light Rail)
Leave a Reply