The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is holding its first of 14 hearings to get input from the public about the possibility of raising fares and cutting services.
Facing a budget shortfall of seven million dollars, RTA is looking to increase prices for all riders and cut services on underutilized bus and train lines.
Some of the fare options include calling for a monthly RTA pass to go up from 85 dollars to 95 dollars. They're also looking at raising the price of transporting the disabled.
Clevelanders for Public Transit members, an advocacy group for riders, say people who depend on public transit because they can't afford a car will be hurt the most.
Member Tom Horseman adds they want to work with RTA to get more state funding and come up with a better solution that works for both riders and the transit system.
“And to make sure when we are talking about things in the region, public transit is looked at as a priority,” he said. “Something that is important for the growth of the Cleveland to be used as an element for growth for Cleveland and not just something that is on the back burner.”
RTA says state funding for public transit has been cut from $42 million to $7 million in the last 13 years.