Almost 60 people from Rochester ADAPT crowded into Room Monroe B, at Monroe Community College (MCC), where the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) was having its monthly meeting of the Board of Commissioners. After delivering a strong message at the hearing last Thursday, August 1st, we decided to take this message to the RGRTA Board—Make the fares fair! While RGRTA is reducing fares for fixed route riders to 1991 levels, Lift Line riders will still be paying more than they were in 2005!

We arrived early at Building 3 and began passing out leaflets to everyone including RGRTA Board members. As much as many of us wanted to raise a ruckus, it was decided that we would throw RGRTA off balance and sit tight through the meeting, as they had come to expect that when we come in full force, their meetings would be disrupted. We sat through customer service reports, finance reports, and a report about adding extra buses on some routes.

Then came the fare reduction spiel. They spoke briefly of the hearing on July 31st, where we attended and testified despite the extremely short notice. They then spoke of Lift Line, and how Lift Line riders enjoy many benefits, including the extended service area, which they contend, goes beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They claimed that Lift Line customers take an average of 300 rides in the expanded service area, and that there were 3000 rides taken in that area since the inception of the service. RGRTA proposed to decrease the fares for rides between 3 and 20 miles from $2.50 each way to $2.00 each way, and to decrease the fares of rides over twenty miles from $5.00 each way to $4.00 each way. Fares for rides under 3 miles would not be reduced. The rationale for this was that they were reducing fares on what their statistics say are the most popular Lift Line rides. They anticipate that even if the ridership rate went up by 3%, it would translate to only 5300 more Lift Line rides per year. No questions were asked by board members, but some of them were openly reading our brightly colored flyer during the meeting. Nevertheless, as expected the vote was unanimous to proceed with the fare reduction plan as is.

At that point, several of us squirmed, but held our tongues as the meeting continued. Lift Line riders were being shafted while fixed route riders got 1991 rates! Amid the other reports was something amazing that really made us angry. The Board voted to begin service from downtown Rochester to Lyons, about 40 miles away. As the presenter said, “Now, you’ll be able to go from Lyons to Downtown Rochester for one dollar.” The enormity of that statement hit many of us hard because Lift Line riders would have to pay at least $4.00, and possibly the expanded area rate of $8.50, if indeed Lift Line even goes to Lyons!

About this time, some of our folks tried to get our large beautiful signs (Thanks to the Rec Center folks for making them!) into the room, but were stopped. They then held the signs up outside of the room, but were threatened with arrest, and the police were called, so they went downstairs. At this time, the meeting was ended, and we let loose, chanting, “Make the fares fair! We won’t go away!” We then went outside and formed a gauntlet with our signs that many folks (including Board members) had to pass through. “Make the fares fair!” we chanted loud and strong. “MAKE THE FARES FAIR!” We got our message through loud and clear.