LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In 2007, Metrolink’s Board of Directors approved a three year program of annual system wide average fare adjustments of 3.5% that would take effect on July 1, 2007, 2008 and 2009 to keep pace with higher costs to operate commuter train service. Because of the escalating cost of diesel fuel, scheduled increases in costs for operating services contracts and new start-up costs related to the arrival of additional passenger cars in 2009, the Board is considering a fare increase of up to 7.5%, instead of the previously approved 3.5% as well as potential reductions in service to take effect on July 1, 2008.
The Metrolink Board is also considering changes to the Group Travel Program. The proposed changes to the program are as follows:
* Increase the discounted Group Travel fare for a round trip ticket from $7.00 to $10.00 beginning July 1, 2008
* Increase the minimum number in a group to qualify for the discounted fare from 10 to 15 beginning July 1, 2008
* Index future increases in the Group Travel fare to system-wide fare change proposals but only increase the fare when the cumulative total of increases is equal to or greater than $1.00.
The public can comment about these proposals in several ways:
* Attend the public hearing
* E-mail to MetrolinkFares@scrra.net
* Fax comments to (213) 452-0421
* Mail comments to Metrolink Fares, 700 S. Flower Street, 26th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017
The Metrolink Board of Directors will receive a compilation of all comments received and a public hearing will be held by the Board at its meeting on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 10:00 am to be held at the Southern California Associated Governments (SCAG) San Bernardino Conference Room located at 818 W. 7th Street, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, California.
This information is posted on the metrolinktrains.com website.
For train schedules, fare calculator and directions to the nearest Metrolink station check at www.metrolinktrains.com or call (800) 371-LINK.
Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service and is in its 15th year of operations. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink continues to be one of the nation’s fastest growing commuter rail services, operating over seven routes through a six-county 512 route-mile network.
[tags]Metrolink fare increase, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Los Angeles transportation[/tags]
