Rybak opposes bus fare increase

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — A proposal to raise fares on Metro Transit buses and trains is under fire from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Rybak told Metropolitan Council officials at a public hearing today the hike will hurt transit ridership.

Metro Transit wants to raise fares by 25 cents in October, to help offset rising fuel costs and plug shortfalls in the regional transit budget. A second part of the proposal would raise fares again sometime in 2009.

According to Metro Transit, bus and train ridership is the highest it has been in 25 years.

MPR's Tom Crann talked with Rybak about his concerns.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 07/09/2008, 5:24 p.m.