Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

Saturday and Sunday bus service will continue at reduced hours until the Lodi City Council holds a public hearing on fare increases Dec. 16.

In October, the council voted on cuts to the transit system to deal with a $323,775 shortfall in state funding.

The cuts included decreasing the hours of service Saturday and eliminating all service Sunday. But the council also indicated it wanted to discuss a fare increase to restore some of the cuts.

Until the December meeting, the buses will continue operating on the schedule proposed if there is a rate increase to pay for it.

Saturday service will be from 7:45 a.m. to 3:09 p.m., and Sunday service will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The council will decide at its Dec. 16 meeting if it wants to either raise rates, to continue these hours, or if it wants to not raise rates and eliminate Sunday service and have Saturday service only run from 9:15 a.m. to 3:09 p.m.

Council members said the public hearing in December will be important to see if riders are willing to pay the extra cost of a fare increase to provide weekend service. Under the city's proposal, here are the rate increases:

Fixed routes:

Tickets for the general public will increase from $1 to $1.25.

Tickets for seniors, people with disabilities and people on Medicare will increase from $0.50 to $0.65.

Dial-a-Ride and VineLine (which is the equivalent of Dial-a-Ride for people with disabilities):

Tickets for the general public will increase from $5 to $7.

Tickets for seniors, people with disabilities and people on Medicare will increase from $1.50 to $2.

While Mayor Larry Hansen is open to the idea of a fare increase to pay for weekend service, he reminded the public that the city could still cut service in the future. City staff has indicated there will be more cuts to the city's transit funding in next year's state budget.

"I want to be very transparent. If the council has a public hearing and votes to increase the fees, it's not locked in forever," Hansen said.

Lodi resident Robin Rushing said he would prefer the city would continue with no service on Sunday and service starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday because he does not want to pay the extra fare.

He feels the increase would be a "church tax" because all the bus riders would pay to continue service for those who need public transportation to religious services on Sunday morning.

"I just don't think we should raise the fees for everybody because of one segment of the population," he said.

Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock said she understands Rushing's concern about increased fares, but pointed out that when she asked the crowd of about 30 at the last meeting if they would mind paying more for additional weekend service, most people raised their hands.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com.

In other action

The Lodi City Council discussed a cable ordinance that would add a Public, Education and Government fee to cable subscribers bills.

For a customer subscribing to Comcast's 100-channel "Digital Starter" service, they would see $0.58 a month added to their bill. This comes on the heels of Comcast raising rates on Oct. 15. With the rate hike, the average entry customers started paying an additional $2 per month.

The city is considering the fee because Comcast no longer staffs council meetings or takes care of the equipment used to record the meetings. The system in Carnegie Forum, where the council meets, is 20 years old and will need repairs, city spokesman Jeff Hood said.

The 1 percent fee to cable uses would generate $80,000 a year for the city.

Besides replacing existing equipment, the money could also be used to purchase equipment needed to produce video from Hutchins Street Square, where the council occasionally meets.

The council will discuss and vote on the ordinance at an upcoming meeting.

News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

ordinarycitizen wrote on Nov 7, 2009 12:58 AM:

" Maggie: We were told Friday afternoon by somebody who answered the phone at the Grapeline office that Sunday bus service isn't going to start at 9:00 a.m. They told us that the buses will be leaving the station at 9:15 a.m. If this is true, then people need to know this in order to ensure that they arrive to work on time, or to church on time, etc. Makes a huge difference as to where we need to be Sunday mornings. "

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ordinarycitizen wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:00 AM:

" Thank you Maggie for the clarification. "

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T & C wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:34 PM:

" Thank you Maggie! "

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Maggiecreamer wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM:

" At the meeting in December, it will then choose to either:
*Raise fares and keep Sunday service and extended Saturday service. (Once again, the hours would be 7:45 a.m. to 3:09 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday service would be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
OR
* Not raise fares and eliminate Sunday service and keep Saturday service to 9:15 a.m. to 3:09 p.m.
Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, let me know.
Thanks,
Reporter Maggie "

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Maggiecreamer wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:17 PM:

" Ordinary Citizen:
The rates will remain the same for now. The council will consider at its Dec. 16 meeting whether to raise them.
Because of a decrease in state funding, the council made cuts to the transit system Oct. 21, including eliminating Sunday service, and decreasing Saturday buses to 9:15 a.m. to 3:09 p.m.
At that meeting, the council indicated it wanted to restore some of that weekend service if bus riders would be willing to pay for the service. The proposed schedule if some of the hours are restored is Saturday service from 7:45 a.m. to 3:09 p.m., and Sunday service will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Because the council does not know what the outcome is from the December meeting, it will continue to run at the times listed in the previous paragraph at the current rates. "

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dogs4you wrote on Nov 5, 2009 4:47 PM:

" Am I confusing the city bus service with Dail-a-ride, the bus service has a certain route, while Dial-a-ride will take you anywhere you want to go. To use the bus service, walking is a must unless you live in front of a bus stop and your destination is along the route. If low ridership is the primary reason for cutting hours I can understand that, seldom if ever do I see a bus even half full of riders. Is it possible that the General Fund already supplements the bus` since there is no way riders only could pay for the insurance, maintenance, fuel and driver pay. "

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KenH wrote on Nov 5, 2009 2:59 PM:

" O.o wow my comment got deleted? I didn't say anything libel, I just said that the city council should confirm something with the Federal Transit Authority.

I'm pretty sure that you cannot charge extra money for weekend service. "

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T & C wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:43 PM:

" When the City of Lodi "Stuck a 100% Passenger fare increase on riders a couple of years ago, "We, the passenger's got "NOTHING" in return!

Now we can look to 25% higher Passenger rates, and in return we get "REDUCED" service!

Oh that is a great deal! "

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ordinarycitizen wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:14 AM:

" To Robin Rushing: You may not see the need for bus service on Sundays, however, a good amount of Lodians do - going to church is an important to them as you not going to church is important to you. I know a lot of people who attend church and this will mean a lot to them to be able to continue going, and they are willing to pay the extra price to get there. "

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ordinarycitizen wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:13 AM:

" To Maggie Creamer: I am a little confused, could you please clarify? Are the fees going up effective this coming Sunday or not until December when the City Council makes a final decision? Are the rate increases listed in this article effective immediately and for all routes during the week? Thanks. "

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T & C wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:51 AM:

" Isn't odd that the city general fund has $$$$ for the things that the City Council deems valuable services, but "Refuses" to put any money from the general fund into the bus service? "

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T & C wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:49 AM:

" While Mayor Larry Hansen is open to the idea of a fare increase to pay for weekend service, he reminded the public that the city could still cut service in the future. City staff has indicated there will be more cuts to the city's transit funding in next year's state budget.

"Why is anyone surprised by this statement?"

It truly seems Lodi wants to stop 100% of the bus service and make all those who ride the bus to work, church, medical appointments or shopping to "WALK"!

The city will use lower ridership numbers due to service cuts to justify even MORE Bus Service cuts! "

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T & C wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:45 AM:

" I told readers last time this bus reduction meeting was going on that they would be raising bus rates! The sad part is, and many riders agree with me is this:

The City Council has "Already" made up its mind to raise bus rates and in return "Cut bus service"! These meetings allow us bus passengers a chance to complain... without any result. It is sad because I know one gal who is relocating out of State soon because the bus cuts took away one of her clients she provides health care for and that is a $200.00 drop in her pay! So sure, why not raise rates more?

Doesn't it seem "CURIOUS" to any reader that "EVEN BEFORE THE CITY waits to see how much money can be saved with THIS Months Bus Service cuts... that there will be Bus Rate increases next month?

What a surprise! NOT! "

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