Connecticut residents continue to grapple with the ramifications of the state’s “Plan B” budget, released after a $1.6 billion cost-saving agreement between the state and its employee unions fell apart earlier this year. Among these are fare hikes and service cuts to transit agencies across the state.
Late last Friday, the details of the budget balancing plan were made available online. ConnDOT would cut its budget by about $90 million a year through measures including:
- Increasing CTTransit bus and paratransit fares by 10%, Shore Line East fares by 14%, and Metro-North fares within CT by 15%.
- Eliminating Shore Line East weekend service, non-ADA dial-a-ride service, and Connecticut River ferry service; cutting statewide bus service; and delaying implementation of night bus service in Waterbury.
- Borrowing to pay for $4 million in bridge safety and maintenance costs instead of using pay-as-you-go funds.
- Laying off 459 employees, removing 311 vacant positions, and retiring 89 employees.
Commuters reacted angrily, telling the Connecticut Post that service cuts and fare increases would be a burden:
Christine Johnson, of Norwalk, a regular CTTransit bus rider, said Sunday she relies on bus service to shop for groceries and go to church, as well as to just get out for a change of pace.
“I don’t think they should do it because the people riding the bus don’t have any other way to travel,” Johnson said.
The hikes and cuts would come even as the Southeast Area Transit system announced its highest ridership in eight years. Transit ridership in the state has increased by 4% this year, according to ConnDOT.
Big impacts on construction projects would be felt also, since the Special Transportation Fund would be cut by $104.8 million in fiscal year 2012 and $120.6 million in FY 2013.
State employee unions may take a re-vote on the cost-saving agreement, and have changed their bylaws so that votes in favor of the agreement by a majority of the unions and a majority of employees would be enough to ratify it. The original agreement was approved by 57% of employees and 11 of 15 unions, but this was not enough to ratify it under the union bylaws in effect at the time.
[…] is also a challenge, particularly with harsh federal and state cuts (under the “Plan B” budget) a possibility. Moving up the timeline on bike and pedestrian infrastructure improvements would […]
[…] enacted severe budget cuts, including to transportation. The “Plan B” budget included service cuts and fare hikes on bus, rail, and paratransit. However, even with an agreement in place, the possibility of these […]