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Bus fares to increase as fuel, other costs rise

While some riders are upset at the higher price for public transportation, others don't mind it.

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published August 27, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - As expected, the county bus company raised passenger fares virtually across the board last week, citing increased costs and rising fuel prices.

Effective Oct. 1, the fare most riders pay when they board a bus will rise from $1.25 to $1.50. Students will pay $1 instead of 75 cents.

Daily and monthly unlimited ride fares also went up, but not as much as originally proposed. For example, daily full-fare unlimited rides will increase 50 cents instead of $1 as first suggested, and the daily reduced-fare unlimited rides will jump 25 cents instead of 50 cents. Riders will pay $3.50 and $1.75, respectively.

Karl Nurse, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board member, said the increases represent "a reasonable compromise" and said he thinks passengers should share the expense of operating the tax-funded agency. Fares were raised last in 2001.

At the Park Street Terminal in downtown Clearwater, riders waiting for a bus Friday had differing opinions about the upcoming hike.

An elderly woman who lives on Social Security and was heading to her doctor to get her hearing aid checked out said it would be hard on her.

It also will make life more difficult for 18-year-old Rodney Herbert, a St. Petersburg College freshman who takes the bus to computer classes at the Drew Street campus.

"I don't own a car," he said. "I know a lot of students who will be mad about it."

Herbert said instead of paying the increased daily cash fare, he plans to buy the $85 passport which will offer him unlimited monthly riding all over Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The passport fare is unchanged.

But Carmen Santiago wasn't upset about the rate increase at all.

"I'm from New York City and it cost $2 to ride the bus," said the 31-year-old mother of two. "For me to pay $1.50 is a blessing. I take it everywhere, to work, to drop the kids off at school, all over."

So does Richard Reid, 45, an electrician who lives in Safety Harbor.

"I love the bus system," he said. "I grew up on the East Coast in Martin County and St. Lucie County and we didn't have a bus system. Let these people who whine and cry about the bus system live in a county that doesn't have one.

"If it cost me $5 a day to get back and forth to work I'd pay it," Reid said.

[Last modified August 26, 2006, 21:02:23]