LONG BEACH : Bus Fares to Increase; Funding Cuts Blamed

The price of a bus ride will go up in Long Beach.

After years of cutting service to keep within dwindling budgets, the Long Beach Transit board of directors voted to raise fares on the city’s 39 bus lines Feb. 1.

“We’ve held out as long as we possibly could. Now we’re at the point where we’re bare bones and we either had to raise the fares or cut deeper into our service,” said Rhea Mealey, marketing manager. An official placed the district’s budget for fiscal year 1994-95 at about $36 million.

The regular fare will increase from 75 cents to 90 cents. For students (K-12 and those in college), the price will rise from 50 cents to 75 cents. For seniors and the disabled, fares will go up from 35 cents to 45 cents. Local transfers will cost 10 cents, up from 5 cents, while transfer connections to Los Angeles and Orange county buses will cost 35 cents, up from 25 cents.

The price of monthly passes also will go up. A regular pass will cost $40, up from $31; a student pass will cost $23, up from $15, and a pass for senior citizens and the disabled will cost $11, up from $8. Dial-A-Lift coupons will cost $1, up from 75 cents.

The city will continue to provide free service to the legally blind, children under 5 accompanied by an adult and riders confined to wheelchairs.