Metro of Cincinnati (SORTA)

Metro is suggesting an increase in base fares. Full price fares would increase by a quarter and those on the Fair Deal Plan will increase ten cents. Monthly rider’s passes will increase by five dollars. There is no proposed increase in the transfer fees, parking shuttles, or access.

I applaud Metro from maintaining the Access rates as these provide service the physically handicapped. I do not object to a fare increase for adult or monthly fares.

I am concerned, however, about those on the Fair Deal Plan. This is offered to the elderly, those on Medicare, children under five, and the disabled.

However, many of these people would assume an extra fifteen cents per ride due to "inconvenient sums." An “inconvenient sum” occurs when the increase brings the total fare to amount greater than the advertised price due to no change given. With this methodology the quarter increase brings the fares from the advertised sixty cents to become seventy five, the dollar ten will become a dollar twenty five, etc.

Fair Deal Estimated Advertised Price:
[$0.10 increase] x [2 rides/day] x [5 days/week] x [50 weeks] = $50
[$0.60 total] x [2 rides/day] x [5 days/week] x [50 weeks] = $300
Fair Deal Estimated “Inconvenient Sum” Price:
[$0.15 increase] x [2 rides/day] x [5 days/week] x [50 weeks] = $75
[$0.75 total] x [2 rides/day] x [5 days/week] x [50 weeks] = $375

I am concerned that some riders that qualify for the Fair Deal discount will be living on tight budgets or may be on a fixed income. The advertised fare represents an estimated increase of $50 per year per rider. This increase could represent two weeks of meals for a low-income family. If this same family paid the “inconvenient sum” price their $75 dollars could represent three weeks of food for their table.

So, I strongly suggest that that increased prices be applied to standard full-price fares and not those offered to children and riders with disabilities. The differential in income will be offset by full fare “inconvenient sum” prices. Additional sums, if any, could be achieved through an increase in transfer fairs or parking shuttles.