Raleigh may charge people to ride the bus again and wants to know what you think
The City of Raleigh is considering whether to charge people to ride GoRaleigh buses again. Before it decides, it wants to hear from the public.
GoRaleigh is asking people to email their thoughts about reinstating fares or attend a public hearing of the Raleigh Transit Authority on May 9. The final decision will be made by the City Council when it passes a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, when GoRaleigh would begin collecting fares again.
GoRaleigh and other public transit systems in Wake and Durham counties stopped collecting fares at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing and reduce contact with frequently touched surfaces, including the fare box. Congress soon passed a huge stimulus package that provided money for public transit agencies, allowing GoRaleigh and others to forgo the lost revenue.
The federal money has run out, and there’s no longer a strong public health rationale for forgoing fares.
GoRaleigh is considering three options: remain fare free; reinstate the pre-COVID charge of $1.25 per ride; or increase those fares to $1.50. Children 12 and under would continue to ride free, as would teens 13 to 18 and seniors 65 and older who get a GoRaleigh ID card. People who are disabled or have a Medicare card would qualify for discounts.
GoRaleigh is also developing a new program to create a pass for low-income riders with the help of local social services organizations.
The Raleigh Transit Authority hearing will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 9, in the City Council Chamber at 222 West Hargett St. downtown. People can also comment in writing by email at GoRaleigh@ Raleighnc.gov through May 10.
The end of federal support tied to the pandemic has forced transit systems to decide whether to resume charging fares. GoTriangle will resume charging riders July 1, with its daily fare increasing by a quarter to $2.50. The agency is also developing a low-income fare pass for riders who qualify for reduced fares.
Cary and Durham have not yet decided whether to resume fares. Chapel Hill Transit buses have been free since 2002, thanks in large part to a subsidy provided by UNC Chapel Hill, and will remain that way.
