1 Vernice Hankins
From: Bonnie Johnstone <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 9:42 PM
To: councilmtgitems
EXTERNAL
Hello City Council!
I'm hoping you'll vote yes! to reinstate cash fare payment on the Blue Buses! Consider the person who comes here from out of town for a visit, doesn't have the "Tap Card", doesn't know where to buy one, and simply wants to use the bus to patronize restaurants or other businesses! Having a cash or card option is best for all.
Thank you.
Bonnie Johnstone
Item 8.A
04/12/22
1 of 4 Item 8.A
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Amy Gottstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 11:34 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 8.A. - Proposed Changes to BBB Fare Policy
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members,
I urge you to oppose BBB from discontinuing any Passes, particularly the 1‐Day Pass, 7‐Day Pass, and Annual Pass. I also urge you to vote in favor for lowering costs for single rides and both 30‐day passes.
BBB riders need choices, and those choices include the fare products which work for every riders’ need and convenience. I am an Annual Pass holder requesting first that it be maintained, and second that the cost (currently $500) be lowered accordingly rather than discontinued. For me, this is a very convenient employer benefit just renewed two months ago.
Whether you determine to allow the discontinuation of the Annual Pass or not, I further request you create a “remedy” for those such as myself who have effectively overpaid ‐ in light of the proposal to allow free BBB to BBB transfers (within 2 hours).
The BBB Survey questions are written in a way that suggests the discontinuation of certain passes “better align products with customer preferences”, however the responses say otherwise! In fact, commenters are more in favor than not toward maintaining the fare options above the favor shown in the survey numbers themselves. The bulk of responses fell in the Neutral/Unsure or don’t know categories which can be viewed as an indication there is no impact either way, or rather take‐it‐or‐leave‐it.
Reducing costs is overwhelmingly popular with respondents despite the lack of recommendation by BBB to implement.
An act in direct contrast with rider preference.
Question 3 ‐ Reduce the Regular Single Ride fare on TAP Total Positive 600/85.6%
Total Negative 16/2.28%
Total Neutral/Unsure 85/12.12%
Question 5 ‐ Discontinue selling the Regular Day Pass
Total Positive (toward eliminating) 187/26.75%
Total Negative (toward maintaining) 156/22.32%
Total Neutral/Unsure or don’t know 371/53.77
Question 7 ‐ Discontinue selling the 7‐Day Pass
Total Positive 129/18.56%
Total Negative 183/26.33%
Total Neutral/Unsure 356/50.93%
Question 8 ‐ Discontinue selling the Annual Pass
Total Positive 115/16.67%
Total Negative 204/29.57%
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2 Total Neutral/Unsure 383/55.11%
Question 11 ‐ Reduce the price of the Regular 30‐Day Pass Total Positive 602/86.75%
Total Negative 15/2.16%
Total Neutral/Unsure 77/11.09%
Question 12 ‐ Reduce the price of the Senior/Disabled 30‐Day Pass Total Positive 552/79.88%
Total Negative 18/2.61%
Total Neutral/Unsure 121/17.51%
Among the 404 comments in response to the above questions, many describe favoring choice and convenience for all riders toward maintaining the passes versus elimination of passes. Further they do not see the point of discontinuing passes when there are riders who benefit from them. As one put it, “How many customers have you had come in and say “Man, I really hate that 7‐day pass I’d really like to pay more”. Some simply beg, “but why [discontinue]?”.
Regular 1‐Day Pass, 7‐Day Pass, and Annual Pass. The reason stated for not recommending them?: “Some customers earnestly requested retention of this pass”.
TO TRULY ALIGN WITH CUSTOMER PREFERENCES: PLEASE OPPOSE DISCONTINUATION OF ANY PASSES While the Staff Report notes free BBB to BBB transfers cut rider costs by as much as 50% for those like myself who must take two buses each way, BBB is acting in direct contrast with rider preference with respect to lowering costs no matter the overwhelming Favorable survey responses. BBB is instead recommending against lowering single ride fares and recommending against lowering costs for both Regular and Senior/Disabled 30‐Day passes.
Meanwhile BBB neglects to explain why the “retention of the expense of cash collection on board makes some fare reductions financially infeasible currently” means they are Not Recommending a decrease in single ride fares or the two 30‐day passes.
PLEASE IMPLEMENT THE LOWERING OF COSTS FOR SINGLE RIDES AND 30‐DAY PASSES BBB says they welcome feedback and care about customers, but are nevertheless actively acting in direct contrast to rider preference seeking to eliminate passes no matter the earnestness from customers to retain the passes. And no matter the overwhelming Favorable survey responses to lowering other costs, BBB is again actively acting in direct contrast to rider preference.
BBB acts in favor of itself over riders and continues to limit choices for riders. This proposal to eliminate passes and refuse to lower costs is just another manner to limit rider choice even further. Please stop them from discontinuing passes. Please implement lower costs. Survey respondents remarked about lack of choice in other respects too such as, absence of benches and shelters (from wind, sun, rain) in addition to the poor scheduling which makes riders miss rather than make their transfers because they are scheduled to parallel on streets and then converge in intersections all at same times ‐ extending commute times. To further emphasize the lack of rider choice, BBB routes are scheduled in such a way that alternate BBB routes (to same destination) do not offer alternate arrival times. The Transit store is closed weekends and evenings. These realities do not reflect Rider Choice.
Thank you for your consideration,
Item 8.A
04/12/22
3 of 4 Item 8.A
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3 Amy Gottstein
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