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Cap Metro Board to Vote Today on Fare Hikes

UT Shuttle
Image courtesy Cap Metro
Students disembark from a University of Texas shuttle operated by Cap Metro

Many observers would be surprised if Austin's public transit agency did not adopt the third fare hike in three years today. Capital Metro has already calculated the fare increase into its FY2011 budget.

"The approved budget also increases our long-term sustainability by lowering costs [and] boosting revenue through a fare increase," Cap Metro president and CEO Linda Watson wrote in the budget document.

The Cap Metro board is scheduled to vote on the increase at 3 p.m.

Cap Metro’s Misty Whited told us about the most controversial fare hikes in a story KUT's Mose Buchele filed after attending a public hearing last month.

“Right now seniors and persons with disabilities ride bus and rail services at no costs, we would start charging them a reduced rate at 50 cents per ride or a 31 days pass would cost 15 dollars,” said Whited.

Listen to Mose's story here:

http://media.kut.org/sounds/news_00022871/web_cap_metyro_hikes.mp3

You can see a chart of proposed fares here. If approved, they would take effect January 2011.

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion-dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on X @KUTnathan.