Students and Milwaukee area residents who thought they could avoid increasing gas prices by taking the bus may soon see price increases themselves. County Executive Scott Walker's proposed 2006 budget calls for higher weekly bus fares and U-pass prices.
Rod McWilliams, communications director for the county executive, said the fare increases will generate revenue to offset high gas prices.
According to Walker's budget, if the budget is approved, the following price increases will result. An adult weekly pass will increase from $13 to $16 next year. The student weekly pass will increase from $11 to $13, and the price of a U-Pass will increase from $38 per semester to $44.
Fares for festival shuttle buses will also increase from $2 to $3. All the fare increases are expected to bring $4.3 million in revenue, McWilliams said.
Adult cash fare will remain unchanged at $1.75 per ride.
Although ridership is up on Milwaukee's buses, McWilliams said it is still necessary to increase weekly fares to offset diesel prices.
"While increased ridership will help offset some costs, it does not come close to paying for fuel," he said.
McWilliams said the increased fares are not an attempt to take advantage of the situation. However, he said it is not fair for Milwaukee County residents who take the bus to have an advantage over those who do not take the bus.
"When it comes to gas prices, why should people who don't take the bus subsidize for people who do take the bus?" McWilliams asked.
Rob Mullens, the Marquette Union Station manager, said the U-Pass fee is a part of the Milwaukee County Transit System budget and is the same for all participating universities in Milwaukee.
"The U-Pass fee charged to Marquette students will be exactly the same as what MCTS charges," Mullens said. "If the U-Pass will cost $44 (a semester), then Marquette students will pay the $44 (a semester)."
The U-Pass fee is listed as a separate item on every student's bursar account, Mullens said.
"Marquette absorbs the cost of distribution and does not add any extra fees," Mullens said.
He added that if a student purchased a weekly pass each week during the semester, taking the proposed increase into account, the total cost would be $256.
Richard Riley, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, said his union is opposed to the fare increases.
"Although Scott Walker takes the position that he will not raise taxes, this is a tax on the riders of MCTS," Riley said.
Riley said that out of the $4.3 million generated from the fare increases, $1 million will actually stay in the MCTS system and that the other $3 million will be used for other county shortcomings.
"Our major concern right now is that this is a tax on riders who are usually low-income individuals who for one reason or another cannot afford a car, or cannot drive a car," Riley said.
The union's long-term concern is that MCTS does not have a dedicated funding source and so the only option to offset fuel costs is to either cut services or raise fares, Riley said.
MCTS user Lee Jenkins takes the bus to her job at Cobeen Hall and thinks the proposed fares are ridiculous.
"That's messed up," Jenkins said. "People are trying to go to work but the bus fares are too high and the gas prices are too high."
Jenell Walton, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said she is disappointed with the increased fares.
"I think that's a little much to pay for a bus ride," Walton said. "For people who catch the bus using a weekly pass, $13 to $16 — a hike of $3, is a big increase."
This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 6, 2005.