Service Cuts & Fare Hikes - Again?

There are articles all over the Denver Media outlets and rumours flying around left and right about service cuts and rate hikes coming in the next year.

Let's start with some random numbers:
Let's take the $382 million budget / operating cost for RTD in 2009.
With more than 100 million boardings, that means that every single time every single passenger boards the bus, light rail or sky ride that passenger would need to pay $4.

A boarding is not simply when somebody pays and receives a transfer or show their fare card/pass.
A boarding is when any person crosses that door threshold and gets on a bus or train.

Keep in mind that companies pay significant discounts for eco passes for their employees, students of all ages pay discounted fares whether as they board or through their colleges.
The elderly and disabled pay discounted fares.

Then of course we have those who use expired transfers, fake passes, invalid and improper passes and even those who refuse to pay out right but still board.

So does the "fare" collection pay for the operation of our mass transit system?
Far from it.
And with sales revenue way down these last couple of years, RTD tax revenue has left us with severe deficits these last few years.

Because RTD is not a for profit company but a tax payer funded municipality, there may come a day when the only buses you see running around town are the First Transit and Veolia companies operating the system because RTD had to shut its doors due to budget cuts.
And you've seen the quality and infrequency of their routes, buses and drivers - and that's while they have RTD as competition & oversight!
Imagine once RTD's gone, what they'll degrade into...

I've said this before but I enjoy reminding folks that this "entitlement" minded society that wants everything for free (paid for by somebody else besides them) are in for a rude awakening.
You can't keep expecting free rides, discounted fares and service improvements without at some point paying for that expectation.

Everybody is whining and moaning about service cuts and fare hikes.
But like the liberal govt in Washington, Colorado & RTD can't keep spending without raising taxes.

And if you think that those who don't use the service (ignoring for the moment the left's cry of, "it benefits us all with cleaner air, more efficient transportation, less traffic..." etc etc etc) want to continue to pay more and more for it - you're wrong.

Companies are so burdened with the taxes, fees, penalties and punishments coming down from the Federal levels for all these entitlement programs such as health care, welfare/unemployment and unions that they can't afford to continue to pay more for a bus ride.

And more and more passengers want discounts and free rides.
More and more want to moan about paying two and a quarter for a ride!

The gas in my truck won't get you across town for only two bucks let alone a 25 ton bus getting a couple of miles to the gallon.
But you want a cheaper fare?

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here.
I still don't support the union and all its extortionist crap nor do I support these private companies operating on RTD routes.
And I still don't support the RTD tax, causing tax payers to pay for those who ride RTD.

BUT...
I do agree that a fare hike is needed.
I want to keep my job, and trust me I'm not getting a single raise, benefit or day off with pay because of any of these rate hikes.
I want to see service continued, not discontinued as something like 18 routes will be come January 2012.

RTD has had to scale back in order to afford to operate.
Tax revenue is down and I've heard rumours that Federal monies (taxes) are being lost due to a Federal Mandate that RTD has to miss because of a lack of funds (tax revenue) to meet the requirement.

I honestly believe that if everybody who got on the bus was honest, paid their full fare, didn't sneak their expired transfers, didn't reuse their transfers going back the other way, didn't simply get on without paying or try giving me an excuse not to pay...
If everybody paid, revenue would skyrocket and RTD could afford to operate at current levels without going into debt.

But that's not going to happen - everybody wants a free ride and the rest of us have to pay for that free ride for the few.

Tax increases, service cuts and fare hikes are coming.
The next time somebody sneaks on the bus, thank him for raising your fare while he steals from you.
Those of you who have that RTD tax taken out of your paychecks - when you cover your expired transfer with your fingers, or cover the direction, date, am/pm punches, etc and think you're getting away with fooling me....
Thank yourself the next time you see an increase in taxes taken outta your paycheck.
It is your fault.
You stole from yourself, thinking you got away with it.

I don't hound you, kick you off or refuse you service when you do that.
It's not my job, I simply tell you the required proper fare and let you board.
Either that fare inspector behind me will getcha or Uncle Sam via taxes from your paycheck.

Either way, fare hikes, tax increases and service cuts are coming.

As Always, "Welcome aboard, pay your fare, find your seats - Let's Roll!"