Research Triangle Park, N.C. - The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) Board of Trustees will hear public comments on TTA’s proposed fare increase at 1 P.M. on Wednesday, December 15. If approved, the proposed fare increase would take effect beginning in February 2005 with three components:

• Proposed Base Fare Increase of $1.50 to $2.00, and increased fares for all fare types (effective in mid-February 2005)
• Proposed elimination of free transfers (effective in April 2005)
• Proposed future fare increases to adjust for inflation (beginning in 2007)

“This would be the first time since TTA began its regional bus service in 1993 that we have implemented an across-the-board fare increase,” said John Claflin, General Manager. “We’re trying to catch up with the rising costs of operations, especially labor, diesel fuel and liability insurance. When comparing the rising cost of operating private vehicles in the last 12 years, TTA’s service will remain an enormous value.”

Claflin says as a regional bus service, “distance is the main difference between TTA, CAT and DATA. The average TTA trip is 9.7 miles long. DATA has an average trip length of 3.4 miles and CAT has an average trip length of 3.2 miles. Agencies similar to TTA across the United States have an average trip length of only 4.9 miles, almost half that of TTA.”

Although the base fare would be increased to $2.00 under this proposal, an unlimited-ride regional day pass would be introduced that could be purchased on any bus operated by TTA, DATA, or CAT. The technology needed to implement the day pass would be available as early as April 2005. Free transfers on TTA vehicles would not be eliminated until the day pass was available. The proposal also recommends a $0.25 fare increase every two years starting in 2007, to cover escalating operational costs.

Those wishing to speak to the board about the proposed TTA fare increase may do so in person at the public hearing at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 15 at the TTA Administrative Offices at 68 T. W. Alexander Drive in the Research Triangle Park. TTA staff will also receive comments from the public at the RTP Transfer Center from 4:00 to 6:30 P.M. on December 15th and from 6:30 to 9:00 A.M. on December 16th at the RTP Transfer Center.

Questions and comments may be sent to serviceplanning@ridetta.org or by contacting TTA’s service planning public comment line at 919-485-PLAN (919-485-7526).

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle. TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.