/ Modified sep 20, 2016 9:30 a.m.

Tucson Bus Fare Increase on City Council Agenda Tuesday

Opponents want alternative: Increase ridership to increase revenue.

Stock sun tran bus spotlight

The Tucson City Council will consider several proposals to raise bus fares at tonight's regular council meeting.

The conversation began months ago, when the Tucson city manager sought ways to stabilize recurring budget deficits. One strategy, Michael Ortega said, was to raise the portion of transit costs that are covered by those who ride.

That would increase revenue and therefore reduce the city's budget subsidy of the transit system.

Bus riders say it's not fair to raise the cost of transit for those who ride because they either can't pay more or they will choose to stop riding if they have other transportation options. The Tucson Bus Riders Union wants the city to come up with ways to increase the number of riders as a way to generate more bus revenue.

The City Council has four proposals on the table tonight. Three of the proposals were released earlier this month, and the fourth is an adaptation based on the comments made at a public hearing two weeks ago.

Find all proposals on the city council agenda. Click on the regular agenda for today's date, and item number 8.

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