EDITOR: VTA schedules hearing on fare hikes, changes. Citing
continuing financial difficulties due to the economic decline, the
county
’s bus and light-rail agency is proposing another increase in
transit fares and is also considering modifications to the way
paratransit service works.
EDITOR:
VTA schedules hearing on fare hikes, changes. Citing continuing financial difficulties due to the economic decline, the county’s bus and light-rail agency is proposing another increase in transit fares and is also considering modifications to the way paratransit service works.
VTA: Riders vs. Bureaucrats. On April 11, the Morgan Hill Times ran a story on the Santa Clara County Valley Transit Authority. The story declared that fare increases will be necessary to keep the VTA operating for seniors and disabled riders. The story went on to declare that under the current proposals, seniors and disabled riders will see the largest fare increases across-the-board – with costs for rides and passes doubling in some cases.
How is it that at a time of economic decline, where many taxpayers have experienced labor reductions, pay reductions and unemployment, that the VTA continues to increase its own employment rolls and worker benefits?
This year alone labor costs for VTA increased more than $5 million; ballooning to a whopping $228 million. Wake up and smell the diesel VTA. You are a bloated bureaucracy out of touch with the times and the taxpayers. May I suggest that the VTA quickly realign its priorities toward serving the taxpayers by significantly reducing labor costs rather than seeking to increase our taxes and fares?
John Murphy,
San Martin
