CU students take realistic view of RTD rate changes
Student fees may be increasing again next year if the Denver Regional Transportation District’s proposed rate increases go into effect.
RTD is proposing fare changes beginning January 2009.
While waiting for a bus on Broadway, Molly Edwards, a 20-year-old senior business major, said she was unhappy with the proposal but understood the necessity of the increase.
“It sucks that student fees are going up again,” Edwards said. “But it’s justified because of the economy and gas prices.”
Edwards, who commutes to CU from Denver, takes a realistic view of her situation.
“For me, it’s worth it because it’s still less than gas,” she said.
Peter Roper, the program manager for sustainable transportation at the Environmental Center for CU, gave more insight as to how RTD rate changes will affect student fees.
Each time a CU student boards an RTD bus with their bus pass, they are counted. The numbers and types of services used are compiled and sent to Roper in a year-end report. RTD then gives the CU system a 45 percent discount on all fares used.
This year, CU is expecting roughly an 18 percent increase in the RTD contract, although Roper said it is very difficult to predict.
“The key thing is if there’s more or less enrollment,” he said.
The actual fee paid by students for the RTD bus pass constitutes 95 percent of mandatory student fees, Roper said. The fees are handled separately from the RTD contract and will go back to legislation to be voted on for the 2009-2010 school year. Student fees will not increase this spring semester regardless of the outcome of RTD’s decision. However, with rising gas prices and more people expected to be using public transportation than in the past, Roper said the only thing to do is either increase fees or cut back services.
Thomas Harrison, an 18-year-old freshman business major at CU-Denver, is still adjusting to using the bus system.
“Where I’m from, we don’t have a big public transportation system,” Harrison said.
Harrison, originally from Pueblo, Colo., said he had heard differing reports regarding the possible rate changes.
“I heard they were going to start charging for parking at the places, and that taxpayers weren’t aware that they’re asking for more,” he said.
Daria Serna, an RTD public affairs worker, said RTD was seeking public input about the rate changes. Serna said the changes had only been proposed, and not approved.
“We are going to the public for a proposed rate change,” Serna said. “There will be a total of 17 public meetings in each area of the district.”
Of those scheduled 17 meetings, two will be held in Boulder this Thursday. The first will be held at noon at the Boulder Public Library, located at 1000 Canyon Blvd. The second will take place at 6 p.m. in the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the UMC.
Serna emphasized the importance of these public meetings.
“From these meetings, we’ll get public feedback and pass it to the board,” she said. “The board will put it to a vote at the end of September.”
Roper also said the public forums are important outlets for the CU community.
“A similar increase is going to happen for the faculty’s eco-pass,” he said. “It’s not just a student issue, it’s a community issue.”
The last fare increase RTD approved was in January 2008. The proposed increase for this coming year was already in the cards for 2010, Serna said. High gas prices and a low economy have contributed to RTD’s decision to try moving it up a year.
“With people tightening their belts, they’re not spending as much money on things they used to,” Serna said.
Ramon Rodriguez, a 22-year-old senior economics major, took an academic approach to looking at the issue.
“It’s simple supply and demand,” Rodriguez said. “When the price of an import goes up, it’s born by one, firms, or two, customers. RTD is a great service-this is just a necessary expense for customers. Does it suck? Yeah. Is it RTD’s fault? No.”
For more information and for a complete list of public meeting times and locations, visit the RTDWeb site.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Emily Sawyer at Emily.c.sawyer@colorado.edu.
