MTA Says Fare Raises Needed To Meet Revenue Goals
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Maryland Transit Administration says a fare hike is needed to meet state revenue goals without cutting services.
The MTA told state lawmakers it would have to raise fares 65 cents next fiscal year, and another 25 cents two years later. Under state law, transit systems have to cover 35 percent of costs from fares. That would raise the current $1.60 fare to $2.25 next year.
The report says fares now cover 29 percent of costs.
Sen. Nathaniel McFadden told The Baltimore Sun he expects fares to go up, but a 65-cent increase would cause severe problems for low-income workers. Sen. James DeGrange Sr., who chairs a transportation subcommittee, says he doesn't believe the legislature will accept lowering the 35 percent threshold, noting it has dropped from 50 percent.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
