Rider feedback puts fare raise on table

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The NFTA might take another avenue to avoid deep cuts in service. Comments from riders have been rolling in, recommending a fare increase instead of dropping dozens of routes.

Riders now pay $1.75 to take the bus or light rail. That could jump to $2 as a way to avoid deep cuts in service.

Many NFTA riders have let it be known that cutting service by 22 percent would not be acceptable. They depend on public transportation to get to work, to shop, and to visit family and friends, among other things.

Bus rider Rob Reed said, "If they cut out the Lockport 44, I can't go see my daughter."

NFTA commissioners, who must close a multi-million dollar deficit, invited comments online. Most of the comments, they say, prefer a rate hike of a quarter, over a potential loss of 42 bus routes.

"More likely I'd pay the other quarter because I want to get to where I got to go, you know, but still, services should be, you know, a little better than what they are," said bus rider Donnie Dash.

Rider Rebecca Cogrephos said, "There are so many people out there that need services, you know, smaller routes and everything like that, so to raise it 25 cents doesn't hurt the pocket that much as you think it would."

NFTA Executive Director Kim Minkel said, "Overwhelmingly a lot of the comments are: "Please don't cut my service. I would gladly pay a fare increase.""

Governor Andrew Cuomo's additional $2.9 million for the NFTA in his budget plan would also help close the Transportation Authority's deficit. If the fare goes up a quarter, the cuts in service could five percent or less. It seems a fare increase is back on the table.

Acting NFTA Chairman Henry Sloma said, "Obviously we would have to consider a fare increase, particularly if the public is calling for that, which in our sense, that's happening."

But that's not to say everyone can easily afford a $2 bus ride.

"That quarter adds up, really. I mean it really does," said rider Jessica Grissett.

Wykeisha Webb added, "$2 is too much. There's a recession too, it's just too much, so I wouldn't pay it."

In the last several weeks, the NFTA has received more than 350 emails and 30 letters from individuals, companies, organizations and municipalities, mostly preferring rate increase over major cuts.