By Daniel Brock
dbrock@scbiznews.com
Published July 20, 2010

Charleston Area Transportation Authority officials will present recommendations for service reductions and fare increases Wednesday at the agency’s monthly board meeting.

The recommendations, a result of CARTA’s quarterly performance review, call for a 16% across-the-board fare increase, route eliminations and discontinuation of the CARTA@Night program.

The proposed moves, along with a suggested service increase along a Rivers Avenue route, would mean a positive budget impact between $792,000 and $1.1 million next year, according to agency documents.

If the measures are approved, regular adult base fare would increase 25 cent, from $1.50 to $1.75. Student passes, CARTA’s most heavily discounted, would increase from $60 to $70 per semester.

Four out of 23 Southeastern transit agencies have base fares more than $1.75, according to a 2009 American Public Transportation Association report.

CARTA last raised fares in October 2008, when a 20% across-the-board hike was implemented. High gas prices were the impetus for that increase.

Route 106 Otranto/Stall would be eliminated under the plan. The long under-performing line was well below its passenger per hour goal, and made up only 5.5% of its operating costs on average over the last three months.

The system-wide fare box recovery rate standard is 30%.

The agency uses a combination of revenues from fare boxes and passes, local funding -- such as the ½-cent County sales tax -- and federal subsidies to cover its expenses.

County support fell $1.4 million last year in a down economy. The reduction expected to be carried over into next fiscal year.

Howard Chapman, CARTA executive director, said that tweaking lines to make up the shortfall without increasing fares or reducing services once is doable, but becomes considerably harder the second time around.

Also, Downtown Area Shuttle Routes 211 and 212 Market Waterfront are up for consolidation, according to CARTA documents. Route 212, the shuttle service’s most-underperforming, would be eliminated. The combined line would be serviced by vehicles that previously ran on 212, for an annual savings of almost $200,000.

Express Route 2 Mount Pleasant/West Ashley could also see extra or “pusher” buses removed, meaning a 45-minute afternoon route frequency, as opposed to the current 30 minute pace.

For the changes to take effect, the board would have to: OK placing the recommendations out for public hearing; conduct a public forum; and adopt the new price structure after gauging community reaction.

The fare increases and route changes would be implemented Oct. 1.

Contact Daniel Brock at 849-3144.