Cost to ride Calcasieu transit buses going up (with fee breakdown)
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:22 PM
By John Guidroz / American Press
Starting next month, fees will increase for passengers of Calcasieu Parish’s 15 public transit buses, according to Tarek Polite, the parish’s human services director.
“Operating a transit system is very expensive,” he said. “We’re trying to get our costs in line with revenues.”
Bus drivers pick up people at their homes on a first-come, first-served basis and take them to work, school, medical appointments and other general locations in Lake Charles and in unincorporated areas of the parish. This is the transit system’s first rate increase since it began in 2003, Polite said.
The buses are paid for with grants from the state Department of Transportation and Development. The cost of operations is split by the state DOTD and the Police Jury.
The fee increase will provide a uniform cost for riders from rural areas of the parish. Before that, there were separate rates for rides of less than 10 miles and rides of more than 10 miles.
Here is a rundown of the price increases for one-way trips:
Urban Areas
• Adults: From $1 to $2.
• Children up to five years old: No charge.
• Children ages 6-12: From 75 cents to $2.
• Passengers 65 and older: From 65 cents to 75 cents.
• Disabled passengers: From 75 cents to $1.
Rural Areas (less than 10 miles)
• Adults: From $3.75 to $4.50.
• Children up to 5 years old: No charge.
• Children 6-12: From $1.50 to $3.
• Passengers 65 and older: From 75 cents to $1.50.
• Disabled: From $1.50 to $3.
Job Access and Reverse Commutes
• Adult: From no charge to $1.50.
• Children up to 5 years old: No charge.
• Children 6-12: No charge.
• Passengers 65 and older: From no charge to 75 cents.
• Disabled: From no charge to 75 cents.
• • •
People can use the Calcasieu Public Transit System if they meet income qualifications. To find out about eligibility requirements, call 721-4040.
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