AUTHORITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Metro to Simplify Fares and Modify Routes
Buffalo, NY
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority announced today that the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to adopt recommended service adjustments and a simplified fare structure for Metro Bus and Rail in conjunction with its Service Restructuring and Fare Analysis/Strategic Assessment Study.
Over the past year, consultants from Transportation Management & Design, Inc., together with Metro's service planning department, conducted a comprehensive strategic assessment of how Metro delivers its service and conducted numerous public informational meetings and hearings to obtain suggestions from the community. The final recommendations reflect findings from the inclusive study and stakeholders' comments on how to make Metro easy and more efficient.
Eunice A. Lewin, NFTA commissioner and chairwoman of the Surface Transportation Committee said, "The service and fare analysis assessment is one of the most meaningful projects Metro has undertaken. When implemented, the restructuring of our service deliverables will offer more options to riders, an uncomplicated fare structure and improve overall operational efficiency, resulting in a more economically sustainable Metro system."
SIMPLIFIED FARE STRUCTURE
Changes to Metro's fare structure will take effect Sept. 1, 2010. The new simplified format maintains the current boarding fare at $1.75, eliminates fare zone charges and bus-to-bus transfers. As a result of eliminating the zones, the cost of a system-wide monthly pass will be reduced from $77 to $64. A system-wide Day pass will continue to be sold for $4.
The sale of bus tokens will cease Sept. 1, except to social service agencies, but will continue to be accepted through August 2013.
Paratransit fares will still be twice the adult cash fare, however, paratransit eligible riders will now be able to travel free on all of Metro's fixed route service. Further, the price of a system-wide PAL 10 and 20-trip pass will be reduced to $29 and $58 from $39 and $79.50 respectively.
In addition, reduced fares will continue to be offered to disabled and Medicare passengers with proper ID, senior citizens 65 and older and children 5-11 yrs. Children four and under ride free with a paying adult, limit three children per paying adult.
SERVICE MODIFICATIONS
The resolution also calls for the restructuring of various Metro routes and route segments to commence Oct. 31, 2010. The major points of change are:
- Reallocation of service to improve frequencies on 15 of Metro's most used routes, with service to operate at a minimum of every 15 minutes during the weekday
- Establish new or renamed and numbered suburban feeder routes
- Extended Metro Rail service on Sunday
- Discontinuance of three routes; 51 Military Summit, 56 River Rd. and the 207 Elmwood Circulator, in addition to segments of other routes, all of which have a history of very low ridership
- The current Paratransit service area and level of service, which is based on Metro's current fixed route system, will remain in effect for 12-months subsequent to any service changes that start Oct. 31
Also, staff has been directed to seek funding to implement another key study recommendation to initiate ridership estimation, basic feasibility and cost benefit analysis of three high level transit investment corridors: Airport/Broadway, Amherst/UB North Campus and Delaware Avenue/Elmwood Avenue emerged as viable candidates for future major transit investment. "The execution of these changes will simplify our Metro system, making it easier to use, thus increasing ridership opportunities for our customers and provide a more user-friendly public transportation system going forward," Lewin said.
A complete review of all of the service and fare changes will be available online at metro.nfta.com in mid-July.
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