The Los Angeles Department of Transportation runs DASH buses that circle neighborhoods like Hollywood and Koreatown, costing riders a quarter a ride. But there's plans to raise fares a dime this year and eventually charge 50 cents in 2011. Blogdowntown reports that Westside City Councilman Bill Rosendahl is pushing for the half-dollar fare to pass this year as a way to save threatened Commuter Express bus lines, including one that travels from his district in the Pacific Palisades to downtown LA. The Palisades commuter bus, though, only carries one or two passengers during its afternoon run, which means the city is subsidizing each rider about $13.
South LA City Councilman Bernard Parks says many more people would be affected by immediate fare increases on the DASH: "Most of our DASH riders are the poorest of the poor. If we increase their fees, or their fare, to subsidize Commuter Express, we're doing Robin Hood in reverse." Having passed through the transportation committee, the decision to raise the DASH fares will be decided by the full City Council. Meanwhile, it'll probably cost more to take the Big Blue Bus and Metro is upping their one-way fares on buses and trains, which has led to arrests, hunger strikes and grocery giveaways. Image via streetsblog
· Move to Save Commuter Line Could Double Dash Fares This Summer [blogdowntown]
· Transit Fare Hike Goes Forward, More Quarters Needed [Curbed LA]
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