Fares for RoadRunner Transit, Dial-A-Ride increase today

Steve Ramirez

Oct. 6, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- To view a PDF detailing the new fare structure, click here.

LAS CRUCES -- Just about everything imaginable costs more these days, and for the first time in 22 years people who use public transportation in Las Cruces will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

Increased fares for the city's RoadRunner Transit and Dial-A-Ride service will go into effect Monday, which means for some regular passengers it will now cost them twice as much.

"I hope the city realize that for a lot of us this is going to seriously affect us," said Martha Blanco, a Las Cruces resident who has to use the bus at least three times a week. "A lot of us are already living on fixed incomes, that's why we ride the bus, because we can't afford a car, gas, insurance and all the other costs to have one."

The Las Cruces City Council approved the first of two fare increases on Sept. 15. The second phase of increases goes into effect six months from Monday, on April 6.

Monday's fare increases will be particularly felt by residents who use the Dial-A-Ride service. The cost to use it doubles from 75 cents to $1.50.

"I'm a little

worried that this will affect the money I have to pay for my medications and prescriptions," said Lois Parker, a retired bookkeeper who has had health problems the past 18 months. "So many of us retirees are already on some type of assistance just to make ends meet every month. I'll just have to see how it goes."

But city officials said the increases are necessary to maintain the level of service currently being provided by RoadRunner Transit and Dial-A-Ride. Dwindling federal subsidies that help pay for public transportation has forced city leaders to dig deeper and deeper into city government's general fund to offset rising costs of fuel and maintenance.

"If everything is going up then it had to figure that what it costs to ride the bus would, too," said Eddie Michaels, a 21-year-old student. "If they can take this extra money and make the service better, then it would be worth it."

Without increasing fares city officials would eventually reach the point where hard decisions, such as eliminating some routes, would probably have to be implemented. Also, increasing the fares makes them more comparable with those being charged in other cities throughout the region, such as Tucson, Albuquerque and El Paso.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at sramirez@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5452

It costs more

-- Beginning Monday, it will cost 75 cents to ride a RoadRunner Transit bus and $1.50 to use the city's Dial-A-Ride service. (Former rates were 50 cents for regular bus service and 75 cents for Dial-A-Ride.)

-- On April 6, bus fares will increase another 25 cents to $1, and Dial-A-Ride will rise another 50 cents to $2.

-- Information: RoadRUNNER Transit, (575) 541-2500. People who are hearing impaired can call (575) 541-2182.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0108-28568984