LADOT Seeking Input on Transit Cuts
Ed Fuentes
A DASH bus is prepped outside Disney Hall to kick off 2008's Late Night DASH holiday pilot, which was privately funded.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The city's transportation department in January proposed the elimination of three Downtown DASH routes and doubled fares as part of a plan to eliminate a budget deficit now projected to reach $350 million over the next ten years.
It is currently holding a series of community meetings on the moves, and on Tuesday afternoon one of those hearings will be held Downtown at the Caltrans building.
The Central City East DASH, DASH C (South Park) and DASH DD (weekend) lines would be among eight citywide lines eliminated. DASH fares, currently a quarter, would rise to $0.35 in year one and $0.50 in year two. Commuter Express lines would also be affected, and a full list of changes can be found online.
According to LADOT, the moves proposed will generate $28 million in savings and new revenue for 2010 and $30.5 million starting in 2011. That's enough to balance the budget for the next two fiscal years, but starting in 2012 the department still expects a $10 million shortfall.
The department's findings will go to City Council before implementation.
Tuesday's meeting will take place at 3pm in the Caltrans Building's Community Center Conference Room.
Bert Green (@bgfa) on February 20, 2010, at 01:25PM – #1
I don't understand the fare change to 35¢ and then to 50¢. Why not just increase it to 50¢? In this day and age it's hardly a big increase and if it helps to reduce some cuts, it would make sense.
Guest on February 22, 2010, at 01:08PM – #2
Agreed, I hardly think anyone will have the arguement that 50c is a high price to pay to ride a bus, what does it cost to ride an MTA bus anyways?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 22, 2010, at 02:09PM – #3
Guest: Metro's normal rate is $1.25, though the agency's average revenue per passenger is much lower thanks to passes, etc.
You have to keep in mind two things with fares: Downtown riders might not be impacted much by a hike from $0.25 to $0.50, but riders on the Pico Union Community DASH (the highest ridership DASH line) might be.
Also, Metro's $1.25 fare is for an average ride length of around four miles. The average DASH rider goes just under a mile, so your revenue per passenger mile is fairly equivalent.
Guest on February 23, 2010, at 11:57AM – #4
Metro's 1 way fare will increase to $1.50 on July 1st and the day pass goes to $6. New monthly pass will be $75.
If LADOT has to cut lines to save other routes....I agree that Routes C, DD, and Central City East DASH should go. When the Expo Line opens in 2011, the F Route should also be eliminated. However, they should consider doing a nighttime DASH route connecting South Park, Old Bank District via Flower/Figueroa, 7th street, Main/Spring, and 1st/2nd.....that would be awesome (until the streetcar opens!)
Jerard Wright on February 23, 2010, at 08:12PM – #5
Agreed! Just increase the DASH fares to 50 cents (That is only one additional Quarter) It simplifies the pricing and still is very convienent for Downtown patrons.
On the DASH restructuring I agree with the changes,
The Route C is a route with no market nor destination and its too short to be any good.
Route DD one-way loop is the routes downfall because its not convinent, this could work as heavily marketed Tourist shuttle during the Holiday and Summer seasons that runs all day and enables patrons to hop and hop off at any stop and ride all day along the entire route.
Central City East, is a route that never had a chance of success, theres no anchor for the route to tie into.