Public Meetings Scheduled For Proposed MMT Changes
The Transit Services Division of the city of Colorado Springs, administrator of Mountain Metropolitan Transit, has scheduled four public meetings to get public input on the proposed service changes for fall 2012 before to a final decision.
The proposal includes eliminating the Front Range Express bus services, which run between Colorado Springs and Denver. David Menter, transit planning supervisor with the City of Colorado Springs, said this would save about $800,000 per year.
“We’re working with limited local funding resources and this is a way to stretch this as much as possible,” said Menter.
There was some opposition to this proposal at Tuesday morning’s meeting.
“There are folks from the Springs that have to go to doctor’s appointments in Denver. It is not just the commuters who are choosing to ride it. There are folks that need the service as well as the commuters who are just choosing not to drive. I think we need to encourage more of these, not cut the ones we have,” said Stephanie Thomas of the Colorado Environmental Coalition.
Thomas added, “Once we cut it, it’s going to be really hard to bring it back.”
The second proposal discussed at the public meetings was raising the cost of riding the Metro Mobility, an ADA para-transit service. The proposed increase would be 50 cents, which would make the total cost for a one-way ride $3.50.
According to the Transit Services Division, this would “align the Mountain Metropolitan’s ADA fares with the federally allowed ADA maximum of ‘two times’ the local fixed route fare.”
Menter said this price increase would create an additional $100,000 per year and “would push out the need to have to make additional cuts on other local fixed route and ADA service sooner and we’re hoping this will keep us right-sized as an agency through 2015.”
“To raise $100,000, I understand it has to come from somewhere but that seems like the cruelest place for a community to try to get it out of,” said Al Brody.
Brody also attend Tuesday’s meeting, and said increasing the price of riding the Metro Mobility needs to be reassessed.
“It’s a terrible idea, if you look at the people who are using it. If they’re working, it’s a job just to get to the job,” he said.
Menter explained that if these two proposals are not taken into effect, other services will need to be cut.
“We’re anticipating that it could be implemented this fall. A final effective date would have to be decided after a final decision is made after we take the comments to City Council and the mayor next week,” said Menter.
There are two more meetings scheduled:
Thursday Colorado Springs City Hall 107 N. Nevada Ave. City Council Chambers Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Noon to 2 p.m.
Thursday Colorado Springs City Hall 107 N. Nevada Ave. City Council Chambers Colorado Springs, CO 80903 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Attendance at public meetings is not required to comment. You may also fax your comments to 719-385-5419 or email to transitinfo@springsgov.com.
Mountain Metropolitan Transit provides local fixed-route bus service, express bus service, and Metro Mobility ADA paratransit service for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. MMT also provides other services such as Metro Rides? ridesharing, vanpool, and bicycling programs.
For additional information regarding Mountain Metropolitan Transit please visit www.mmtransit.com, or call 719-385-RIDE (7433).
