SANTA CLARA VTA RIDERS UNION P. O. Box 390069 Mountain View, CA 94039-0069 http://www.vtaridersunion.org/ NEWS RELEASE TO: Editor or News Assignment Desk or Transportation Reporter Press Contact (in alphabetical order): Eugene Bradley 24 hr. cell/pager (408)888-2208 email: eegenebradley@yahoo.com VTA "UN-FARE" INCREASE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY Latest VTA Fare Hike Further Discourages Ridership, Revenue MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (December 29, 2004) -- The Santa Clara VTA Riders Union (SCVTARU - web site http://www.vtaridersunion.org) today criticizes the latest transit fare hike of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) that will take effect New Year's Day (January 1). It is the third such fare hike VTA has made in as many years, and the sixth transit fare hike since its inception in 1996. VTA's latest fare hike was approved by its Board of Directors back in June. As part of the fare hike, an adult one-way will increase from $1.50 to $1.75, while an adult day pass will increase from $4.00 to $5.25. Specific details on VTA's latest fare hike can be found on VTA's web site: http://www.vta.org/news/releases/2004/12_dec/nr12-17_2004.html While VTA claims that the fare increases are equitable to all transit riders, VTA's fare hike is "un-fare" to seniors, disabled, and youth - those who depend on VTA buses and light rail the most. For example, the cost of a youth (age 5-17) monthly pass increases from $30.00 to $49.00 - an increase of 64%. The price of a senior/disabled annual pass increases from $121.00 to $286.00 - an increase of 137%! A history of VTA fare hikes from its inception in 1996 until today can be found on our web site: http://www.vtaridersunion.org/staticstics/farechange1996-2005.html The genesis for VTA's third fare hike in three years is based on the VTA's Business Review Team report from November 2002. Spearheaded by San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales the report basically recommended that VTA's financial stability be achieved thru higher fares, transit service cuts, and increased marketing of VTA buses and light rail. While the "Business Review Team" claims this strategy will increase farebox revenue, their contradictory strategy further decreases farebox revenue and transit ridership. This strategy is "un-fare" as it continues to put VTA's ongoing fiscal woes on the backs of Santa Clara County's public transit riders. VTA's fare hikes and service cuts since 2001 continue to force more bus and light rail riders back in to their automobiles. According to VTA's own numbers from last November, over 100,000 riders have been lost since 2001. Over 200,000 jobs have been lost in Santa Clara County during this time. Factor in the job loss with the 2003 U.S. Census Bureau's figure of only 4% of the County's commuters using public transit, and only 10,000 riders were lost due to the economic downturn. How VTA lost the other 90,000 riders is easily traced by its decisions to raise fares and reduce service every year since 2001. Based on this pattern, VTA's latest fare hike after New Year's Day will negate the 37% and 54% respective weekday and weekend ridership gains made on their light rail system. Thus, VTA's latest fare hike is “un-fare” to local quality of life, as more County residents return to their cars and into increasing highway gridlock as a result. Back in October, when VTA attempted to spend $7.7 million in County tax dollars on public relations firms, SCVTARU instead recommended using the money to rescind the fare hike it approved back in June. While the VTA rescinded the $7.7 million proposal, it further sullied its public image by failing to use the funding to offset the $5 million it claims are being raised by this fare hike. VTA's latest fare hike is one more reason why SCVTARU is pushing to replace the VTA's Board of Directors with a voter-elected body. Such a body would solely focus on public transportation in Santa Clara County and the Bay Area region. Concerned citizens can get involved by visiting our web site, www.vtaridersunion.org, and clicking on "Sign Our Petition". SCVTARU is also planning on a petition drive throughout Santa Clara County whose goal will be to make it “fare” for citizens to put themselves directly in charge of managing the Valley Transportation Authority via the ballot box. ### About the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union -------------------------------------- Founded in October 2000 by Eugene Bradley, the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union is a grassroots-based organization dedicated to ensuring that elected officials improve and implement cost-effective, frequent, and reliable mass transit in Santa Clara County. Our web site is at www.vtaridersunion.org. We are based in Sunnyvale, CA. Our organization has absolutely no affiliation with, nor is endorsed by, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever. Note to Editors and News Desks: More information on SCVTARU can be found at the following URLs: http://www.vtaridersunion.org/whoarewe/who.html http://www.vtaridersunion.org/PR