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MTA Board Votes To Increase Bus, Train Fares

Cassie Paton, Kathy Zerbib |
May 22, 2014 | 9:39 a.m. PDT

Executive Producers

Protesters gather outside the MTA Board meeting. (@agonzoman00/Twitter)
Protesters gather outside the MTA Board meeting. (@agonzoman00/Twitter)

Despite countless cries of protest, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted 12-1 today to increase bus and rail fares by 25 cents. The jump from $1.50 to $1.75 will begin in September.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina was the only board member who voted against raising rates. She received a standing ovation for dissenting.

In addition to the 25 cent increase, this new policy allows passengers two hours of free transfers and also hikes up rates for day, weekly and monthly passes. The MTA postponed making a decision on other proposed increases for 2017 and 2020 ($2 and $2.25, respectively). 

Along with a coalition of dozens of local organizations, the Bus Riders Union and Fight for the Soul of the Cities campaign called on the MTA Board and Mayor Eric Garcetti not to increase bus fares at this morning's Board meeting. The coalition also urged the MTA to end its stop and frisk of passengers.

Dozens of Los Angeles residents spoke out against the proposed fare increase, which would go up by 30 percent and affect more than 500,000 bus riders, the majority of whom are low-income and people of color. Only five votes were needed out of 13 Board members to vote down the fare increase proposal.

Edgar Mateo, an unemployed L.A. resident, attended the meeting with his grandmother and spoke to the Board.

"Imagine me as a young person right now looking for a job and still trying to catch a bus with the money I have right now," Mateo said. "If you raise the raise it'll be affecting not only me, but these guys right here coming from different cities, some from San Fernando, to come to these board meetings."

Mateo's grandmother, Maria Mateo, is also unemployed and said she suffers from medical conditions, including athsma. She spoke tearfully to the Board members in Spanish as her grandson translated.

"Why are you raising our fares? I'm going to have to walk now." 

SEE ALSO: 'Fare Raise Has Bus Riders Worried'

Reach Executive Producer Cassie Paton here and Senior Entertainment Editor Kathy Zerbib here. Follow Cassie's Twitter here and Kathy's Twitter here.



 

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