Media Release

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Chris Hilderbrant (585) 546-7510, cell: (585) 267-0343
July 30, 2008

Rochester, NY – People with Disabilities today received notification via US Mail of a public hearing being held by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) tomorrow, Thursday, July 31, 2008. The public hearing is being held to receive comment on RGRTA’s proposed fare changes.

In accordance with its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), RGRTA must maintain a fare for Lift Line that is not more than double the cost of a ride on RTS. In its proposed fare reduction from $2.50 to $2.00, RGRTA has done exactly that and nothing more.

“What we want to know,” said Bruce Darling, CDR’s Executive Director, “is why everyone else is going to be paying what they paid in 1991, while our people are still paying more than they did in 2005?”

Advocates at the Center for Disability Rights, Inc. have multiple concerns with RGRTA’s plan to use its $19 million surplus. These concerns include:

• The proposed fare reductions are THE LEAST that RGRTA can do under federal law.
• Fares for Lift Line riders traveling less than 3 miles will not be reduced.
• While RGRTA has one flat fare for RTS riders, Lift Line riders still will have EIGHT possible different fares.
• Fares in the “premium service zone” will still cost $10 for the average one way ride!
• RGRTA used its “budget woes” to justify raising Lift Line fares in 2005, but the reality is that RGRTA was making a profit the whole time.
• If “fare is fair”, Lift Line users should be able to pay the 1991 Lift Line rate – $1.50 – for any one way trip!

RGRTA’s public forum will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008 beginning at 6:00 PM. The forum will be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604.

It was almost exactly one year ago that RGRTA last held a public forum regarding Lift Line fares. This forum also gave riders little or no notice to attend. “It is clear that RGRTA wants to use us to get funding from the state,” said Gene Spinning, CDR’s Board President, “but then they don’t want to hear one word from us the rest of the year.”