RTA proposes fee hikes, route eliminations; seeks public comment

DAYTON — The Greater Dayton RTA will ask the public for feedback later this year ahead of possible cuts and a hike in prices.

The agency will hold public hearings on Tuesday, Nov. 14, to discuss the proposed service changes they say are needed due to a loss in revenue.

The loss in revenue is coming from a pending change in “statewide managed care organization sales tax reductions for counties and regional transit authorities,” according to a news release.

The Dayton RTA could lose up to $4.5 million annually.

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A proposed fare increase could go into effect as early as February 2018.

The RTA announces that some routes could also be eliminated including: X1A, X1B, routes 40, 41 and 61, and LS service Meadowdale, Belmont, Thurgood Marshall and Dunbar (June 2018), according to the news release.

Also certain routes could be eliminated on select days only, including: routes 23 and 60 on Saturday and Sunday; and routes 11, 19, 22 and 24 on Sunday, according to the release.

Other proposed reductions include:

• Elimination of several weekday and weekend trips on city and county routes; and
• Connect paratransit customers outside ADA service area are provided countywide services as a result of service reductions.

According to the media release, RTA is also considering eliminating transfer, change cards, tokens, and weekend and family passes.

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A proposed increase in fare would bump the fare to $2 per boarding for adults and $1 per boarding for reduced-fare customers, and create a $2 a day pass for reduced-fare customers.

The public hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the second floor multi-purpose room at Wright Stop Plaza, 4 S. Main St., Dayton.

Comments can be made verbally in person or by calling 937-425-8339 or in writing to speakup@greaterdaytonrta.org.

RTA serves 3,300 stops on 35 routes throughout Montgomery County and parts of Greene County.