Going to court

  As promised, opponents of the MTA's fare hikes are going to court in an attempt to block the higher charges. The challenge raises the specter of more litigation for the MTA just as it exits a federal consent decree. From the press release:

According to a lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Bus Riders Union (BRU) and the Labor/Community Strategy Center (LCSC), MTA violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by approving massive bus fare increases without considering the environmental impacts of its decision. By turning riders into drivers, groups say the fare increases -- as high as 140% -- will result in even more air pollution, global warming emissions and traffic congestion. Indeed, MTA's own projections and analyses confirm that the increases will cause more pollution. "The MTA is forcing many thousands of riders off the system and back into cars," says David Pettit, director of the NRDC's Southern California Air Program. "This will bring into our streets, roads and highways an enormous number of cars, trucks and other vehicles, increasing pollution and exacerbating traffic congestion."

Comments

[Abe]

The breakdown of a bus on a line always makes it harder on both the passengers and the drivers. Resulting in an overcrowded bus and angry people, who usually arrive late! MTA should focus on better maintenance of its busses. After all it is the bus that transports passengers to the trains. I hope that with this fare increase they can solve or minimize breakdowns!

[D.Woodward]

I find the BRU isa bunch of self appointed experts on public transit.The BRU has there heads up their asses.A bunch of morons.

[calwatch]

I think that the numbers do make some difference in this. A 20% fare increase is much different than a 120% fare increase that was originally proposed. 20% is within the realm of reason, although the $5 day pass is a bit steep (hint to all: a Metrolink ten trip ticket is equivalent to ten day passes, when validated at a Metrolink station per day...$31.25 for Pomona-Claremont, the cheapest pair. Great for those who have their trips pass through a Metrolink station, or Gold Line riders who transfer downtown.)

[jeff]

God, I love to read about people that think the MTA is wasting taxpayers money, but have no facts to back it up. That's called talking out of your behind.

As for the BRU, why don't they waste their hot air to make a difference across all of LA's transit. Try lobbying Sacramento and Washington for more money instead of trying to force a false choice between bus and rail on the rest of LA's commuters. It costs money to run a transit system and if it's not being subsidized to the level necessary, farebox revenue has to rise. If you don't like it, pester your legislators for a long term solution. The BRU acts like they're one of two squirrels fighting over the world's very last nut.

I'm sick of the BRU's useless racial and now ridiculous false environmental claims. Keep fares low, or we'll all buy beaters and drive them everywhere! You'll all die from the fumes created from our 1970s-era rustbuckets!

And STFU about only white people riding the rail system. A cursory look at any of Metro's rail lines will disprove this notion. All Angelenos of all ethnicities need to get around this megalopolis, and we need the best possible system to do it.

What will get more people out of their cars is a fast way to get from downtown to the Westside. The 720 (and the new 920) are still buses that get stuck in Wilshire Boulevard traffic. All of us should be working to get the Aqua (Expo) line finished to Santa Monica, the Purple line built to the Pacific and getting the downtown connector linking the Blue and Gold lines built.

[yours truly, johnny dollar]

BRU: be a real union; and do what union's do. GO ON STRIKE!
Until then, you are so much hot air.

[Ben]

RB,

My opinion is that MTA, like many governmental agencies, does not spend its money effeciently.

While I cannot prove this, I believe that MTA has enough money to operate a proper transit system without raising fares in an extreme manner. I don't believe that MTA is as cash strapped as it claims. It spends money on rediculous union contracts that overpay through the nose. It spends money on projects that do not best serve its primary customers (bus riders). It is an agency that must focus on complete transit management (including rail and roads), when in my opinion an agency should be set aside to focus completely on bus transit in Los Angeles. In short, RB, MTA wastes money. Stop wasting money, focus on serving the core customers, and it will be able to provide reliable service and a seat without raising fares so extremely.

[E. Soto]

Ben, the rate hikes are not extreme, considering they have not raised fares in years (although they should have). Compare the cost of a $70 EZ Pass to driving. Car payment: $400. Insurance: $120. Gas: $100-$400. If you make minimum wage and cant afford to get to work then reconsider your career or place of work, minimum wage jobs are a dime a dozen. Work where you live.

Im tired of everyone complaining about the rate hike, its pathetic. I ride the redline everyday and I think its a bargain, even if I made minimum wage!

[Michael L]

I understand why the MTA had to raise fares and I think the BRU are some of the worst offenders of self interest I have ever seen. Why they think minorities won't ride the trains is beyond me. I truly believe that some things should not be run for profit but rather run for the public good. The police, the fire department, and health care would be some of the largest glaring examples. Can you imagine a Police department run for profit? What is so bad about subsidizing public transportation? We subsidize all of our roads, maybe we should be charging fares for use of the roadways in addition to the taxes people already pay...just like public transportation. All the BRU is doing with this lawsuit is making things worse. They don't care about what is good for ALL of the people of Los Angeles that ride the buses or trains. We need to file a countersuit against the BRU and anyone else that is behind this suit for making things worse for the rest of us. They are doing nothing but costing the MTA millions of dollars that really need to be put towards running our buses and trains!!! The real issue is how much should our public transportation be subsidized and the MTA doesn't have as much control over that as the BRU may think.

[RB]

Ben,
How do you propose the MTA pay for a service that requires you to wait less time for a bus and guarantee you a seat when it does arrive?

[Ray]

So now the special interests are demanding that environmental reviews be conducted by government in the course of regular business decisions? Great way to bring the entire apparatus to a grinding halt.

A fare increase is not a capital project or purchase. Does the PUC confer with the same environmental agency when Edison's rates are increased? Does LAWA confer when they raise the passenger fees at LAX? Should the parks commission do the same when they consider parking rates at the zoo?

Some have said it all ready. I'll say it another way. If California is ever going to raise her head from gridlock - and from mediocre performance in infrastructure development - user fees have to be part of the mix.

Moreover, we are going to have to shield our competent agencies from jokers like the BRU and the raft of nimby's that endlessly meddle with operations, or delay and derail good ideas with litigation. Time for another state constitutional amendment perhaps?

[Gil]

Great...another lawsuit.

These are probably the same groups/people who wanted more increased wages and benfits for the MTA workers and now they are complaing about fare increases due to rising operating costs (i.e. wages).

There is no such thing as a free lunch you knuckleheads.

That is why I am retiring as an employer because everone wants a free ride.

[Ben]

From the comments posted above, it would seem that these folks do not ride the bus on a regular basis.

As a regular bus rider, I believe the fare hike is extreme. While keeping the regular boarding fare at the same level, monthly passes (which is what the majority of regular riders use) are going up severely. An EZ Pass is going up to $70 dollars a month from the current $58. For someone who is making minimum wage, that is an extreme rise in the cost of basic transportation. Even for someone like myself, who chooses to take public transportation rather then drive, and who is making fortunately more then minimum wage, the increase will take its toll. The MTA does not give value to its customers. There are waits for busses and no seats when one gets on. The drivers are often rude or at best detatched. If one is not fortunate enough to live in an area served by a number of bus lines, such as the valley or parts of South Los Angeles, waits for a bus can be up to an hour or more. Before you take pot shots at the Bus Riders Union (which I do not completely support by the way; I do not believe this city needs 1000 less police), you should consider the principle for which they are fighting for - a working transit system; one which anyone can use when they need it; and one which gives back value to taxpayers and the individuals it serves.

[Matt]

Section 21080 of the California Public Resources Code states "This division does not apply to .... The establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, or other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of meeting operating expenses....

If NRDC has a problem with the law, they should start in Sacramento, collect signatures on a petition, etc. A lawsuit with a local agency is just the wrong place to start.

[Tom A.]

Just when I thought my level of respect for the BRU couldn't get any lower, they do this. As Chris, Donald and RB all said, this is only going to make MTA's financial situation worse, starting the cycle all over again. Someone needs to tell these glory-hungry jerkholes that "expensive" public transportation is better than none at all, which could conceivably happen if repeated lawsuits drive the MTA into bankruptcy.

[Scott Mercer]

I don't know whose arm they twisted to get the NRDC to join in this STUPID lawsuit.

But the NRDC are the people whose arms need to be twisted. If anyone contributes to the NRDC, they need to be advised that anyone who supports increased mass transit service will STOP CONTRIBUTING to the NRDC if they don't remove themselves from this ridiculous suit.

[Anthony Fernandez]

The BRU is not looking after the transportation needs of Los Angeles. They want buses to be exclusive to Blacks and Latinos and they want those who are experimenting with public transportation to go back into the cars. They are ensuring the downfall of Los Angeles by forcing the MTA to spend money to defend the projects which are so beneficial to the entire Southland.

[RB]

So the BRU is suing the MTA. The MTA will spend a few million dollars to defend itself, thus being forced to cut service, which then the BRU will sue again, and the MTA will defend itself again. Does anyone else see a downward spiral here? If the MTA raises rates and thus helps finish the expo line, and the gold line, and add services, then THAT will take drivers off of the road thus shooting down the BRU's argument that the MTA didn’t consider the environmental impact of raising rates.

[Donald Stanwood]

This is a depressing, although not unexpected development. I wonder if any suit filed will wind up on Judge Hatter's calendar? Whoever hears the case, one can only hope he/she will be able to concentrate, amid the ranting of the guys in yellow T-shirts, and realize that we cannot go down the road of another Consent Degree.

[Chris]

So wait- the bus riders are saying that they should not be responsible for paying more, even though operating costs have increased? How is that fair to every other taxpayer that subsidizes their commute to work? If you use it, expect to pay for it. If you don't use it, don't pay for it.

If these groups are so concerned over fare hikes, they should pay the MTA to make up the difference in operating costs. It would sure be cheaper than a lawsuit. Also, I'd love to see the NEXT lawsuit that comes from the Bus Riders Union when they win this case and MTA is forces to cut service... let's be sensible and stop this process before it wastes millions of taxpayer dollars.