By Carl Anderson
The Scene staff
Metro Transit plans to increase fares this summer, affecting many Forest Park students who commute by bus or light-rail train.
Culinary arts major Myeisha Garrett, 19, isn’t happy about it. She uses the system to travel from Dellwood to the college every day and sometimes to her job at Walmart.
Metro officials have developed three possible options to raise revenue, targeting people who use public transportation most.
Single-ride fares will stay at $2 for Metro buses, and stay at $2.25 or go up to $2.50 for MetroLink trains under all the options. Two-hour passes also will remain the same at $3.
The cost of weekly passes would increase from $25 to $26 under Option 1, $27 under Option 2 or $28 under Option 3. Monthly passes would go from $72 to $78 or $80. Semester passes would go from $150 to $165 or $175.
“The increase is necessary to the keep Metro running and to help expand it in the future,” said Patty Beck, director of communications.
Officials point to inflation and the rising cost of fuel, vehicle parts and employee insurance. Employee wages were frozen in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Fares make up 22 percent of operating income, Beck said. Under the Moving Transit Forward plan approved by voters, they go up every two years. It’s a way to regulate increases and avoid dramatic spikes.
In March, Metro invited local residents to attend meetings, hear presentations and ask questions about the three options. A public hearing will be held April 1.
“We want to try to reach everyone,” Beck said. “Our customers and community are very important. We need their input.”
Whether officials decide to adopt Option 1, 2 or 3 or a combination, fares will go up July 1.
This is not considered good news by many students, who already face rising costs of food, clothing and other necessities.
“They need to stop (increasing fares),” said Forest Park student Esabio Robinson, 32, who rides buses and trains from North St. Louis. “Bus fare is the same as a gallon of gas.”
General studies student Olivya Peters-Evans also commutes from North St. Louis. She has worked in West County and at Six Flags.
Peters-Evans, 20, of St. Ann, has paid $6 a day for bus fare.
“(Increases are) really annoying because trying to get a transfer is hard enough,” she said.
The public hearing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. April 1 at the Metro headquarters at 707 N. First St. in St. Louis.
Bus driver Renee Johnson, 47, of St. Louis, has heard plenty of complaints from riders about fare increases during her 18 years working at Metro.
“They take it hard every time,” she said. “(But) I don’t think it’s a bad deal. It costs more to travel in a car to Fenton and Shiloh.”
For more information, visit metrostlouis.org or call 314-982-1400 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.