Fare Increases and Service Changes Approved by Topeka Metro Board
September 20, 2011 – The Topeka Metro Board of Directors voted to increase fares, eliminate evening and Sunday service, and reduce the para-transit service area at the monthly board meeting that was held on Monday, September 19th.
Fare Increase
The increase in fares will go into effect on October 1st. Tickets purchased between now and 9/30/11 will be at the current price levels; tickets purchased after 9/30/11 will be at the new prices. Monthly passes for October, November and December that are purchased between now and 9/30/11 will be at the current prices. Passes purchased after 9/30/11, will be at the new prices.
Click here for new pricing structure: Fares Effective 10/1/11
Evening & Sunday Service
Evening and Sunday service will be discontinued effective October 1st. This includes both the general taxi service and para-transit service that currently operates in the evenings between 8:30pm and 11:30pm and during the day on Sunday.
Reduction of Para-transit Service Area
Effective November 1, 2011, the para-transit service area will be pulled back to within 3/4 mile of the fixed routes, as required by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). Please call customer service at Quincy Street Station at 783-7000 if you need help determining whether you fall within the service area.
For background information, please click here: Service Modification Information
September 19th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
So, where is all this extra money going to if you guys are cutting services & raising prices? I depend on the bus to get to work. I live by Topeka High. And I work in Westridge Mall. I cannot afford to spit out $50.00 bucks for a pass. Will the West 21st be affected by this?
September 21st, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Thank you for checking in with us. The combination of reducing operating expenses while increasing revenue from fares is necessary to fill the anticipated shortfall in funding due to cuts at the federal and state levels. The fixed routes are not being changed and therefore, the West 21st route will remain as it is right now. The fixed routes will only be affected by the fare increase.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
How do you except the people to get home that depend on your evening and Sunday Service? I know that a lot of people depend on that and now you are just cutting out? It would also be helpful if the fares were acutaualy posted on the website.
September 30th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Hello, Amy. We appreciate your comments regarding the Evening & Sunday Service. The decision to eliminate the service was not an easy one for the board to make. For those that depend on the service, we encourage you to contact Capital City Taxi at 267-3777. They are working to have a similar service available by Oct. 17th, to transport people home from the Wanamaker corridor.
The new fares are posted on the website in two different areas. At the top of this page, you can click on the “Fare Changes” link. Or you can click on “Riding” at the top of the page and then click on “Fares” on the right side of the page.