FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2010

METRO TRANSIT TO FEEL EFFECTS OF CITY BUDGET CUTS

Public Meetings to Discuss Proposed Fee Changes and Service Reductions, Addition of Unlimited Day and Week Passes

Due to City of Oklahoma City budgetary reductions caused by a decline in municipal sales tax revenue, the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority is proposing an increase in fares and a reduction in METRO Transit services.

In response to rider demand, COTPA is also proposing to add a new unlimited day and weekly pass. The proposed passes would allow riders unlimited rides for a day or week for fees of $4 and $15 respectively.

“We want to support our riders and realize for many, public transportation is their only option. We want to protect the services that help the most people by balancing the needs of all riders and our programs that serve the highest number of people with the fiscal responsibility of the City,” said Rick Cain, administrator of COTPA and director of public transportation and parking for the City of Oklahoma City. “We hope the unlimited-ride day and weekly passes will help relieve some of the added expense for our riders.”

COTPA will conduct public hearings to describe the proposed METRO Transit route and fare changes and to receive public comments. These meetings are scheduled on or near bus routes so that opportunities for public comments are convenient for the people who use public transportation.

• Wednesday, May 12 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. at the Downtown Ronald Norick Library, Friends of the Library Room located at 300 Park Avenue, three blocks south of the Downtown Transit Center.
• Monday, May 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Capitol Hill Library at 334 SW 26 Street, near Routes 14, 20 and 40.
• Monday, May 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Metro Tech in the Carousel Room located at 1900 Springlake Drive along Route 22.

COTPA will reexamine the proposed service reductions and fee changes after receiving public comment and will make their final budget recommendation to the City Council in June. If approved, changes would go into effect August 1, 2010.

The proposed changes would increase fares from $1.25 to $1.50 per ride. In addition, free transfers will be eliminated, regular and express passes will be consolidated and a new unlimited day pass and a weekly pass will be introduced.

If approved, this will be the first fare increase in seven years. METRO Transit’s fares will remain below peer cities including Tulsa.

In addition to the fare changes, COTPA is proposing several service and route changes. Proposed changes include: eliminating Route 51 (Orange Line Trolley) which has one bus all day Wednesday through Saturday; eliminating ten trips from Route 8 and 40 which was a pilot program; and eliminating METRO Link which is a night and Sunday service contracted through Airport Express.

For more information about proposed service and fare changes, visit www.gometro.org/public-notices.

METRO Transit is a division of the Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority. COTPA, a public trust administered by the City of Oklahoma City, is responsible for providing safe, efficient and convenient public transportation to the citizens of the greater Oklahoma City area.

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