Unlike many big cities, Milwaukee has a relatively small downtown and a massive suburban area. This lack of a centralized downtown makes Milwaukee one of the most spread-out cities in the Midwest. As a result, the Milwaukee County Transit System is the lifeline to the city for many of its residents. As the most viable source of public transportation, the proposed bus fare increases by County Executive Scott Walker is a threat to this lifeline.

Walker says the increases are necessary to address risingfuel costs.

Marquette students won't be hit the hardest, but a $6 increase each semester for the bus is still an inconvenience. However, for those who need the bus to get work, the fare hikes could be a major financial blow, especially since Milwaukee is the seventh poorest city in the nation. The proposed $3 increase for adult weekly passes would cost riders an additional $156 a year. When someone is making around minimum wage and scraping to find the extra money needed for anticipated price hikes for energy, $156 is a lot of money. For those who have no car and depend on the bus to get to work every day, like MCTS rider Earl Higgins, price increases will leave them with no alternative means of transportation. Higgins said of the fare increases: "I got enough stuff I gotta worry about without having to come up with an extra $3 a week."

While no one can deny that gas prices are indeed on the rise, it is important to remember that buses are a public service and should not be used as a for-profit commodity. No one knows what gas prices will be like this time next year. They may very well be higher, but how much higher is debatable.

MCTS ridership has increased over the past year, which should help offset some costs. However, it is not unreasonable to think that the price increase might chase down the number of riders gained. All told, the fare increases will bring in $4.3 million in revenue. Yet the President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 said only $1 million will actually stay in the MCTS system while the rest goes to pick up the slack of other county shortcomings. Bus riders should not have to foot the bill for anything other than money needed to operate the bus. The government has a responsibility to protect its transit system for city residents.

Unless the $3 million leftover is going to the MCTS, it should stay where it belongs — in the pockets of the riders themselves.

This editorial was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 13, 2005.