Editorial: Bus fares could go up, again

For bus riders who endured an increase in fares on Jan. 1, it may seem like “deja vu all over again,” to quote Yogi Berra. 

On Nov. 14, the City Council passed, on first reading, Bill 77, a measure that would raise basic fares for TheBus beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

The standard single cash fare would go from $2.75 to $3 a ride — perhaps making it easier for those who don’t carry around a lot of loose change. The standard monthly bus pass, which went from $60 in 2017 to $70 this year, would go up again, to $80.

The standard annual bus pass would go up too, from $770 to $880. Other fares, for low-income riders and those using the Handi-Van, would rise marginally if at all, and in some cases could actually go down.

The biggest proposed increase targets the best bargain in public transit — the standard annual senior citizen pass. The $35-a-year pass would rise more than three-fold, to $120. While the increase seems large on paper, it’s still a bargain at less than $2.50 a week for unlimited rides.

There’s a weary understanding that as operating costs go up, public transit fares will need to rise periodically. City policy requires that between 27 percent and 33 percent of the system revenues come from bus fares. And while the Honolulu Rate Commission makes recommendations on fare increases, the question of whose ox gets gored is a political one for the mayor and City Council to hash out.

Assuming this proposal has legs, the Council would need to take it through two more readings, ensuring time for public comment. As Berra also said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”