LRW Honors Amtrak’s Acheson As Railway Woman Of The Year
From Editor-In-Chief Foran: Of Gender Equity And Inclusion
Spotlight On Some Of Today’s Rail Safety Products
Women of Influence in Rail eBook
Newsletter Sign Up
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
railPrime
Rail News Home
Passenger Rail
Rail News: Passenger Rail
8/10/2009
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Santa Clara VTA approves fare increase acceleration
advertisement
On Aug. 6, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors approved accelerating a fare increase from January 2010 to October 2009 to help combat a continuing decline in sales revenue. The fare increase acceleration includes changes to paratransit fares, paratransit services and scheduling options.
The measure should generate $1 million in revenue, according to the VTA board, which approved the fare increase in June when it authorized the 2010-11 budget.
In the third quarter of FY2009, sales tax receipts fell by 21 percent, representing a loss of $5.8 million; VTA’s budget projected an 8 percent decline in the same period. The decline exacerbated the budget deficit the agency “has been working diligently to address in recent months,” according to a prepared statement. In June, VTA’s budget gap was $30 million. With the latest decline in sales tax revenue, the gap has increased to $36 million.
“The state has de-funded public transportation and the sales tax revenues continue to significantly decrease due to the recession,” said VTA General Manager Michael Burns. “We have implemented many cost-saving strategies, but we need to continue to look for other means to fill in the growing budget deficit.”
The measure should generate $1 million in revenue, according to the VTA board, which approved the fare increase in June when it authorized the 2010-11 budget.
In the third quarter of FY2009, sales tax receipts fell by 21 percent, representing a loss of $5.8 million; VTA’s budget projected an 8 percent decline in the same period. The decline exacerbated the budget deficit the agency “has been working diligently to address in recent months,” according to a prepared statement. In June, VTA’s budget gap was $30 million. With the latest decline in sales tax revenue, the gap has increased to $36 million.
“The state has de-funded public transportation and the sales tax revenues continue to significantly decrease due to the recession,” said VTA General Manager Michael Burns. “We have implemented many cost-saving strategies, but we need to continue to look for other means to fill in the growing budget deficit.”
