Open Letter on Proposed METRO Bus Fare Increase

October 22, 2012 (pdf)

Re: Proposed METRO Bus Fare Increase

Gentlemen:

Please work together to ensure that the proposed fare increase does not have to occur. You all support the creation of a Regional Transit Authority, which is currently being blocked by the Joint Finance Committee of the Wisconsin Legislature. In the interim, until sanity returns to State Government, I implore you to put on your creative hats and find a way to maintain our current METRO fare structure. The Madison Area Bus Advocates offer the following concepts for you to consider as a starting point for the collective solution we all expect from you:

• The County now and in the future will benefit significantly from METRO transit service
  • from a proposed transit extension to the Dane County Airport
  • from a proposed enhancement of Route # 13 service to the Alliant Center, where County Employees can Park & Ride to County Employment Centers in the Downtown
  • from service to the County Court House
  • from County Human Service Agencies locating facilities in Madison so as to have accessibility to public transportation
  • from County Human Service Agencies using Metro paratransit services
• The Metropolitan Planning organization (MPO) may have access to discretionary transportation funds which could be allocated to selected components of the METRO Budget
  • for Capital Projects, including support for Bus Maintenance facilities and Bus Fleet purchases
  • for Demonstration Projects, possibly including service to the Owl Creek Neighborhood or other innovative transit service concepts

As far as cutting current transit services, we consider this only to be a last resort, after all options for increased revenue are explored. We do not support the "slow death" of transit through some attrition program. Instead, like you, we want to make transit service available throughout the Madison Area in response to growing user needs, energy prices and environmental concerns associated with total reliance on private auto transportation.

Thank you in advance for the job I know you can do to address this situation.

Susan De Vos, Chair, Madison Area Bus Advocates