Fare Increase

By any gauge, the state's MARC commuter rail service is a star performer. In the past five years, while fares have held steady, ridership has exploded by more than 110 percent. Station parking lots are filled most days and rush-hour trains are often standing-room-only affairs by the time they reach Washington.But success sometimes brings with it unwanted side-effects. Higher operating expenses and a determination not to increase fares while ridership was growing have lowered MARC's farebox recovery to below the 50 percent level -- the point at which state law requires that MARC ticket prices be raised.

Maryland Transit Administration fares have to go up eventually. It has been eight years since the last fare increase, the longest such stretch in the agency's history, and at some point the cost of fueling and running buses and trains was bound to force a change. A recent award by an arbitrator that is forcing higher salaries and pension contributions for transit union members didn't help, and the system is now well short of its goal to recoup 35 percent of its expenses at the farebox.

An emergency 9 percent increase in Baltimore taxi fares, effective immediately, won approval yesterday from the Public Service Commission after a consortium of cab companies said it was needed to offset soaring gasoline prices.The commission also voted to hold a hearing on a separate request by the same companies for a permanent increase that would raise the fare of a typical ride 91 percent. That hearing is expected in the next few months.By a 3-0 vote, the commission approved the emergency increase, which raises the price of the average cab ride from $4.40 to $4.80.

A blue-ribbon commission set up to recommend ways to finance Maryland's growing backlog of transportation projects recommended Tuesday that the state raise its gas tax by 15 cents a gallon and increase public transit fares as well as protect that revenue from being diverted to other purposes. The panel, set up by the General Assembly, also urged legislators and Gov. Martin O'Malley to back a series of other revenue-raising measures, including a 50 percent increase in vehicle registration fees and doubling the emission inspection fee to $28. The increase in Maryland Transit Administration fares would affect bus, light rail, MARC and metro service.

The 16,500 daily riders of Maryland Rail Commuter trains could face a 5 percent fare increase late this summer, state transportation officials said yesterday.Ronald J. Hartman, state mass transit administrator, said he planned to "consider" seeking a 5 percent raise in fares for the heavily used commuter line that provides daily service between Washington's Union Station and Baltimore's Camden and Pennsylvania stations. The MARC service also runs trains along the Potomac River between Washington and Brunswick in Frederick County.

A myriad of fare increases and discounts were announced yesterday, with some airlines raising prices to offset higher fuel costs and others reducing them to entice customers.In an effort to offset rising jet fuel cost, Northwest Airlines said it would increase fares 5.8 percent starting on Oct. 31.But Eastern Airlines of Miami announced it would offer new fall weekend discount fares, which range from $79 to $129 each way for domestic travel from 13 cities, beginning today. Last week, Eastern announced it would raise prices 8 percent on full coach fares for tickets not purchased in advance.

Citing poor service to customers who call for cabs, a hearing examiner for the Public Service Commission has rejected a 19.3 percent rate increase for city cab companies.The surprise decision came despite an agreement among the cab companies, the PSC staff and the Office of the People's Counsel that such a rate increase was appropriate. But testimony by a group representing the blind persuaded hearing examiner O. Ray Bourland 3rd that the cab companies should not get the increase."The call service provided by Baltimore taxicab companies is, if not inadequate, close enough to it as to warrant substantial improvement," Bourland said in his decision, dated yesterday.

Gussie Harris came to a public hearing in Baltimore yesterday to plead the case of Minnie Smith and thousands of other senior citizens and handicapped people who say the Mass Transit Administration's proposed nickel increase in their bus and Metro fares could mean ripping the fabric of their daily lives.Take 69-year-old Minnie Smith, for example. Every day, she catches the transit bus to the Forest Park Senior Center, arriving at about 8:45 a.m. in time for breakfast at 9.Between 10 and 12, she is busy in ceramics, basket-weaving or music.

Appearing before the Public Transportation Board last night, Howard County cab companies pleaded their case for the first fare increase in nearly a decade.Four cab companies operate in Howard -- including Action Cabs, Mini-Star and Columbia -- and they each charge $6.60 for a five-mile ride.Last month, they requested a $2 increase for the same distance, a rate identical to that for cabs in Montgomery County. But County Executive James N. Robey called the request unacceptable.The board said it will discuss the request at its June 22 meeting.

The state Public Service Commission has granted Baltimore taxi cab drivers an emergency 9 percent increase because of rising gasoline prices.The rate increase, which was opposed by two cab owners and the Office of the People's Counsel, boosts the price of an average cab ride from $4.40 to $4.80 effective immediately. An average ride, according to the commission, is 3.8 miles long with two minutes of waiting time.Under the terms of the emergency increase granted yesterday, the cab companies will not increase the rent that drivers must pay for cabs; the full amount of the increase will go to the cab driver, who must pay for the gasoline.