Agency staff will suggest options for fare increases to the RTD board Tuesday, spokesman Scott Reed said. The district also will hold open houses on the topic the third week of June, including one at the Boulder Public Library on June 20. RTD Board member Dick McLean, a former judge and Boulder mayor, said raising fares is necessary, but the study's criticism of the Eco Pass and college student pass programs concerned him. He also questioned the study's methodology. McLean and Boulder Mayor Will Toor met Thursday with RTD General Manager Cal Marsella over concerns about the study.
Nothing is set in concrete.
The study was undertaken in the hope of finding ways to simplify rates structures and to make fares more even in the district's different geographic areas. Currently, RTD charges 75 cents per trip in Boulder. Of the eight fare structures outlined by the study, all recommend rates for Boulder routes jump between 33 percent and 45 percent. It also suggested increasing Eco Pass fees by at least 35 percent and raising the cost of college student bus passes 15 percent to 20 percent. The study said the Eco Pass programs are failing to live up to the requirement that rates cover RTD's cost of providing the service.