Council to review transit system
Changes could include bus fare increases
The Porterville City Council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday night before making a number of modifications to the city’s transit system, among them bus fare increases.
Modifications include a 25-cent increase in general transit service fares, a 15-cent increase in reduced transit service fares, a $4 increase in general transit 31-day passes, a $2 increase in general demand response fares and a 50-cent increase in reduced demand response fares.
Additionally, the council will consider eliminating transfers, implementing a general transit one-day pass for $3, a reduced transit one-day pass for $1.50, a student transit 31-day pass for $25, a reduced transit 31-day pass for $20, increase in senior age from 60 to 65 years and older, an increase in the free children age from 4 to 5 years and younger and an increase in reduced transit fare from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. all day.
According to a staff report in Tuesday’s council agenda, continuing growth in the city and the county has prompted new requests for service. Requests include extended hours of operation on week nights for commuters or college students. Other requests include providing fixed route service to new emerging areas of the city or running buses on Sundays.
The proposed modifications come after the completion of the city’s short-range transit plan, which found the change in fares are in line with the other transit providers in the county and the implementation of student monthly passes will generate sufficient revenues and ridership for future service expansion.
The city is required to solicit public comment prior to increasing fares or implementing major service reductions, the report further states.
Also on Tuesday, a consent item, which is considered routine and usually not pulled for separate discussion, to authorize public works staff to advertise for bids on the Plano Street bridge rehabilitation project will be considered.
The proposed project includes widening the existing Plano Street bridge and reconstructing the street approaches. Cost for the project’s construction is estimated at $7.48 million and an additional $748,000 is necessary for construction contingency. The city will also hire an engineering firm at $865,000 to perform construction management, inspection and quality control services. The total estimated project cost stands at $9,343,500.
The council is set to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall, 291 N. Main St.
To view Tuesday’s agenda in its entirety, visit http://www.ci.porterville.ca.us/govt/CityCouncil/Agendas/.
