Emails, Francine Pares, communications manager, Capital Metro, Dec. 5, 2014
1:15 p.m.
Chairman Martinez joined the board in June 2007. He has served as Chair since January 2010.
At the November 2010 board meeting, Capital Metro’s board voted to restructure its fares, which included new fares for mobility impaired customers and seniors (who had previously ridden for free). A review of the minutes and adopted resolutions from that meeting indicate that Chairman Martinez did not attend the November 2010 meeting and was not part of that vote. The first phase of these changes went into effect January 2011, including a reduced fare category that included seniors 65 and over.
At the Sept. 2013 board meeting, the board approved a two-year phased fare restructure. The first phase took effect in Jan. 2014, however the senior fare category was not affected. In Jan. 2015, with the implementation of the second phase of the fare restructure, the senior reduced base fare will go from 50 cents to 60 cents. Seniors 65 and over receive a 50 percent discounts on all fares.
Senior Base fare history
· 1985 to Jan. 2011 – Free
· Jan. 2011 to Present – 50 cents
· Jan. 2015 – 60 cents
1:49 p.m.
...the base fare at present is 1.00 for a Local bus ride. Those in the reduced fare category pay 50 cents. In Jan. 2015, the base fare for a Local bus ride will be 1.25. Seniors will pay 60 cents. All of our fares can be found here. Our new fare structure as of Jan. 11, 2015 is here.
2:45 p.m.
Please see attached meeting minutes from the Sept. 2010 board meeting. While the fare increase was discussed in item #17 during the Sept. 2010 board meeting, the meeting minutes state that, “the proposal to increase fares requires a separate public process and subsequent Board action.” The board voted in the Nov. 2010 meeting on this, as stated (above).
Our review of the minutes from the Sept. 2013 board meeting shows Mr. Martinez advocating against a fare increase for MetroAccess customers but nothing either way related to seniors. Agenda packets and meeting minutes from 2010 – present can be found on our website here.
From: Selby, Gardner (CMG-Austin)
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 1:32 PM
To: Pares, Francine
Subject: Following up
Was Martinez at the September 2013 vote?
Why did he miss the earlier meeting? Is a reason recorded in the minutes or such? Provide a link?
Has Martinez or any other board member acted over the described years to suggest senior fares (or any fares) be reduced? If so, in what way and when and what happened?
Thanks.
g.
3:03 p.m.
Yes, Chairman Martinez was at the September 2013 board meeting. Our records merely show board members as "absent" - we do not keep specific information on why a board member is not present.
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