The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

September 22, 2012

Transit fare hike eyed

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

MERCER COUNTY — Mercer County Regional Council of Governments is studying a fare increase for Mercer County Community Transit, COG Executive Director Thomas R. Tulip said Wednesday.

If the hike comes about, Tulip said he hopes most of it would picked up by the state through its various programs that reimburse COG for rides given to disabled people, the elderly, those with medical needs and other people eligible for state transportation programs.

Very few riders pay a fare that is not subsidized through a government program. Co-pays vary depending on the reimbursement program, with some riders paying nothing.

Tulip made his comments after informing the COG board that preliminary audit figures show transit, a door-to-door bus service, spent more money the last fiscal year than it took in, nearly wiping out an $80,000 surplus the transit budget had earned after years of deficits.

Transit is facing “an increased demand for services, but flat revenue and increased expenses,” Tulip said.

The state General Assembly and the last two governors have failed to identify a consistent funding stream for public transportation, as well as roads and bridges, since the proposal to charge tolls on Interstate 80 was axed by the federal government, and some state funding programs have been cut or stagnant, Tulip said.

Meanwhile, ridership has been strong – more than 90,000 trips by about 12,000 different riders in the past year – and expenses, particularly fuel and lubricants and labor costs, have gone up, he said.

A feasibility study for the fare hike is being done, and one of the factors officials are looking at is moving from a zone-based fare system to one that is mileage-based. Public comments must be sought and a public hearing held if a fare increase is proposed.

“The state has final say as to whatever fare hike is requested,” Tulip said.

Transit last raised fares in July 2005.

“We had dug out of a $500,000 hole from back when we implemented the last fare increase,” he said.

The financial picture with transit’s sister agency, Shenango Valley Shuttle Service, a fixed-route bus service in Sharon, Hermitage, Sharpsville, Farrell and Wheatland, is much rosier, he said.

“Shuttle is on pretty solid ground with the funding we get,” Tulip said.

The amount of federal funding that the shuttle service will receive in this year is $655,287 – up $117,000 over last year, although Tulip said he expects it will go back to the 2011 level next year.

Shuttle, Western Reserve Transit Authority, Youngstown, and the new Trumbull County Transit Board – taking over for the now-defunct Niles-Trumbull Transit System – get a lump sum allocation from the federal government and divvy up the money based on population, population density and bus revenue miles.

The federal money can be used only for capital expenses and preventive maintenance. COG in recent years has funneled $155,000 a year into maintenance, which usually covers that total category expense.

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