Dawning

Star Tribune Sat, 10 May 2008 04:14:21 GMT
Riders, gas prices surge, so might bus and light-rail fares

Twin Cities residents are flocking to buses and trains, but the increased revenue from riders can't make up for the higher operating prices. Thousands of Twin Cities residents have escaped soaring gas prices by crowding onto buses and trains. But the cost of riding may soon catch up with them. The Metropolitan Council's transportation committee will be asked Monday to set up a series of public hearings into possible fare increases for the region's buses and light rail, in response to the surging costs of fuel. How much they might go up could become clear in June, according to spokeswoman Bonnie Kollodge. The regional agency sets fares for Metro Transit and several suburban transit operations. The rising fuel prices are partly responsible for a surge in riders. Metro Transit ridership for January through March was up 7.2 percent over the same period last year, and 16.4 percent more people rode the Hiawatha light rail line than in the first quarter of last year. The 19.2 million Metro Transit riders were the most since 1984.

[[keywords: PublicWorks;Living;Metro;]]