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Pasco bus fares could increase

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County's public bus riders could pay more for that service as of Nov. 1.

A proposed increase in bus fares will be on the agenda Tuesday when county commissioners meet at the West Pasco Government Center. The meeting starts at 10 am.

Commissioners are considering the fare hike in place of reducing service and shutting down a little-used line in Zephyrhills. Both possibilities came up during this summer's lengthy budget negotiations.

During those discussions, bus riders begged commissioners to preserve the system as is, including Saturday service and the Zephyrhills circulator. They offered to pay higher fares if that would keep the buses on the road.

Commissioners are taking them up on their offer.

The proposed increases would raise regular one-way bus fare 50 percent to $1.50. Reduced fares, paid by senior citizens and the disabled, would rise to 75 cents from 50 cents.

Reduced-fare riders make up the largest share of the bus systems passenger, county officials have said.

Fares for the county's on-demand paratransit system wouldn't change.

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