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Altamont Commuter Express to raise fares
Altamont Commuter Express passengers can expect to pay about 3 percent more for their train tickets beginning in January next year and an additional 3 percent if they come and go from the Stockton station.
Rising fuel prices and an increase in ridership pushed the proposed fare increase onto the Oct. 3 agenda for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, said ACE spokesman Thomas Reeves.
Discount tickets will still cost half the regular fare.
Since the last fare increase in 2006, ACE has expanded its fleet of diesel-fueled trains, which, along with rising gas costs, makes the price increase all the more necessary.
The rail commission budgeted $1.8 million for diesel costs, up from $1.35 million the year before.
"The economy and gas prices are definitely a factor," said Reeves of the price hike. "People ride more, and though we don't claim to be faster, most of the time it is cheaper to ride the train."
The decision to up the fare was actually approved by the commission three years ago, Reeves said. But ACE had too many late trains, he said, so commissioners thought it improper to raise fares until the trains had a more punctual track record.
"Our on-time performance was very poor over the last few years," he said. "We thought it would be inappropriate to charge riders more when we had such a bad record."
The Stockton station would cost more because it had a higher number of late trains over the past few years, Reeves said.
Last year's incremental increase of 3 percent was delayed, so Stockton riders will see a 6.2 percent increase against the 3.2 percent for all other stations.
"We're catching up now to what was approved in 2005," he said. "It was supposed to be more incremental."
The fare increase would start Jan. 2, 2009. It's on the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission agenda for 8 a.m. on Oct. 3 at the South Hall meeting room, at the Robert J. Cabral Station, 949 E. Channel St. in Stockton.
For more information: 944-6220.
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Acampo_Mom wrote on Oct 1, 2008 3:44 PM:
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