News	April 17, 08

Broward County

Bus Fares Hiked

County raises bus fares for disabled

By Jonathan Del Marcus

Although many disabled, low-income county residents publicly implored Broward County commissioners to rule otherwise, the county decided to raise rider fares on its paratransit bus system.

The commission voted April 8 to increase the $2 one-way fare, which has not changed since 1996, to $2.50 per trip on May 1 and increase it again to $3 on Oct. 1, 2009.

The county’s paratransit bus system serves disabled individuals who qualify for specialized transportation because of physical, cognitive, emotional, visual or other disabilities that prevent them from using the county’s fixed-route bus system.

The service cost the county $21 million to operate last year, minus a $3 million contribution from the state of Florida, said Chris Walton, the director of the county’s Transportation Department. The federal government requires the county to offer the service in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, but does not provide funds to support it.

“I would love not to have to do this,” County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman said. “But we don’t have a mint in the bottom of the government center that allows us to print money.”

Many individuals with disabilities — some with visual impairments, some in wheelchairs and some with service dogs by their sides — addressed the commission.

Rita Warren, who is recovering from shoulder replacement surgery and must go to therapy three times a week, asked the commission to reconsider. “That gets to be a substantial part of my Social Security,” Warren said. “I understand fully that the price of gas has skyrocketed out of sight. I just suggest instead of economizing on the backs of the seniors and people who are indigent or unable to use public transportation and rely heavily on this kind of transportation, that to find some other means of economizing.”

Still, the commission approved the fare increase 6-1. County Commissioner Ken Keechl voted against the resolution. 

Vice Mayor Stacy Ritter said her constituents in overwhelming numbers have told her that they want property tax relief even if it means a reduction in county services. Ritter represents District 3, a geographic area that encompasses many wealthier areas in the western section of Broward County, including portions of the cities of Sunrise, Tamarac, Coral Springs and Parkland. She said she struggled with the choice of either increasing fares or reducing services. In ultimately supporting the fare increase, however, Ritter made it a point to declare her progressive credentials and urge those concerned about the increase to contact state legislators to provide more funding for the program.

“I’m a bleeding-heart liberal,” she said in an excited voice. But a few moments later she dejectedly added, “There comes a point in time when political reality hits you in the face.”

Because this was the first of many budget-cutting measures the commission will face this year, Keechl said he wanted to see what other budget items need to be cut to identify the most crucial priorities.

“I don’t think this is the time to make a decision in a vacuum,” he said.