MARTA eyeing higher fares, service cuts - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The panel voted to raise basic fared by25 cents, from $1.74 to $2, effective with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Parkin fees at nine lots also would goup $1. On the servicew side, MARTA trains would stop running at while non-productive bus route would be eliminated. MARTwA officials have warned for months that higheer fares and service reductionws would be needed to fill a projected 2010budget shortfall, even with $25 milliom in economic stimulus funding the voted this week to providd MARTA. The federal allocation, approved by the ARC board on will help MARTA offset slumping sales tax revenues resulting fromthe recession.
“While we’re tremendously thankful to ekethrough one-time measures aren’t real long-term funding solutions,” said Beverly Scott, MARTA’s general manager and CEO. MARTA will hold public hearings on the recommendeed fare increases and service cuts on June 16and 17. The agency’zs full board of directors is expected to vote on the changes onJune 22.