El Metro fare hikes go into effect
By
Ray Gomez
Story Created:
Nov 16, 2009
Story Updated:
Nov 16, 2009
El Metro bus riders felt the pinch at the pay stalls as fare increases went into effect Monday.
Management at El Metro tells us they had customer service representatives on hand to take an expected increase in calls, and surprisingly they say feedback from personnel report people seemed to be adjusting well.
Since council approved the rate increase back in September, media outlets and city officials have been constantly talking about the change, which might of helped ease people into the big day:
"The call that we got from customer service basically was the amount that they have to pay other than that we didn't have any complaints."
For those who still aren't sure: all bus fares have increased 15 cents and transfers have gone up 10 cents, and the higher fees didn't seem to keep people from riding the bus today.
As you can see buses are still full so it doesn't look like the rate increase has affected traffic but only time will tell:
"The numbers will tell a different story if there was a change but we will not know until tomorrow."
But for now it seems everyone is adjusting at his or her own pace:
"It’s very hard cause right now how things are going economically we're barely making it. So it went from $1 to $1.15 just a little more."
Even if its just a slight increase, its still more money.
"I can’t ride it as much because we pay more money--wasting more money."
"Adjustments are good except it does take out a little spending money from the weekend but its all good."
But for now only time will tell. If this slight increase will make it harder for people to ride as they do now.
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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 12:30 PM
i feel sorry for the people that use the transit system and now the city has stuck it to them..laredo is a crime infested city in whic our city leaders dont give a damm about...instead they take trips on our money and bring back nothing but useless information...a good buisness owner knows to invest back into the business in order to produce..when you ignore your business you loose and these city leaders are ignoring the important issues...plus we should blame the media for not doing their job.
32299814Anonymous said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 12:32 PM
the media doesnt do investigative reports....very quick to put pressure on regular citizens for example problem solvers...but when it comes to the politicians...they turn a blind eye..hey tim and ann...do your job... for the sake of this community
32299949A sometimes bus rider said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 1:22 PM
Wow, instead of encouraging people to use public transportation, they will be deterred. The ones who will have to pay for it are the poorest ones who are forced to use the bus. Those like me who just use it once in a while for convenience will just stop using it all together. I understand costs are rising but they could use more creativity to come up with incentives to encourage bus usage, not reduce it. What a shame.
32303299Trolley said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 2:14 PM
Where the hell is the FREE trolley?
32306471UnitedLonghorn said on Friday, Nov 20 at 2:28 PM
Exactly bus rider, PRO 8 NEWS, measure the change not by ridership but by customer satisfaction, that's where the change is at. EL METRO SUCKS BIG TIME! They want more money? Get buses that pass by the stops at least every 15 minutes lets see if the city doesn't get money if they implement that
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