SPECIAL
EVENT BUS AND FERRY FARES INCREASE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2004
On Friday, January 30, 2004, the Golden
Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation Board of Directors, authorized
implementation of a special event ferry and bus fare increase
effective February 1, 2004. A public hearing was held on January
22, 2004, to receive public input the proposal to increase special
event fares.
By policy, special event Golden Gate Transit bus fares to Candlestick
Park for 49ers games and Golden Gate Ferry service to SBC Park
for Giants games are set to cover direct operating costs
of these discretionary services, while commute and basic bus and
ferry services have a fare structure that is subsidized primarily
by the fares collected and by Golden Gate Bridge tolls. These
fares were raised last in 2001. To remain at breakeven
cost levels, new fares were adopted as follows:
Special Event Service
|
Special
Event Service
|
Previous
Round Trip Fare
|
New
Round Trip Fare
|
| Ferry service between Larkspur &
SBC Park |
$11.20
|
$13.00
|
| Bus service between Larkspur &
Candlestick |
$13.00
|
$16 .00
|
| Bus service between Santa Rosa &
Candlestick |
$16.00
|
$20.00
|
| Bus service between Sonoma & Candlestick |
$17.00
|
$22.00
|
In mid-2002, the Board of Directors adopted a Strategic Plan for
Achieving Long-Term Financial Stability to address the then projected
$454 million five-year shortfall. The Plan called for a balance
of cost cutting and revenue enhancement measures, with fares increases
being one component. Fares for regular bus and ferry service were
increase on July 1, 2003. Through a number of additional actions
taken since mid-2002, including the reductions of bus services
by 22% and a reduction in force, the shortfall has been reduced
by 70% to $139 million. A more comprehensive transit fare program
for the coming five-years is now under development and is expected
to be ready for public review in the next few months.
