The bus system is funded by rider fares and transit-specific revenue that come from outside sources, such as sales taxes.
“We came in about $700,000 less than was anticipated,” she said. “That’s a huge hit for us, and we are not looking at regaining some of those tax dollars back for the next couple of years, so we have to figure out how to size up some of the system within the resources we have.”
Potential fare increases would help the transit system offset the cost of gas and other operating expenses, which have become increasingly challenging to pay for since the recession, she said.
The regular cost to ride the Beeline bus is 25 cents, but under the proposal, fares would increase 25 cents annually for three years. Glendale’s bus fares are low compared with other city-operated transit systems in Burbank, Culver City and Montebello, according to a city report. Metro passes and tokens could also be eliminated as fare payment options because the city is not reimbursed for riders who use those passes to transfer, Engel said. That move would require riders with Metro pass transfers to pay a fare, a city analysis stated.
About 15% of city bus riders use Metro passes.
Changes may also be made to some bus routes that are often overcrowded in the afternoon, she said.
“We need to figure out how we can revamp some of the service to put more buses and more hours where we need to relieve the overcrowding,” she said.
Route 3, which connects downtown Glendale to Glendale Community College to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, is one of the busiest bus lines.
