TRE Rates Increasing

By MELISSA NEWTON

Updated 6:55 PM CDT, Mon, Apr 13, 2009

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Residents in Fort Worth will soon see an increase in the price of public transportation on the Trinity Railway Express.

The increase would affect the TRE Commuter Plus Premium Pass and Express Service routes from outlying areas. The T's increase is its first rate hike in nearly two years -- raising the cost by 50 percent.

"It's $5.00 round trip, there and back," Jeane Bryant said of the TRE pass to Dallas. "I couldn't do that in gas."

The Fort Worth resident rides the TRE once a week to Dallas and back, but beginning in September her $5.00 train ticket will cost $7.50 instead.

Fares to Ride the Rails Are Going Up

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Fares to Ride the Rails Are Going Up

"Our fares are about half what the national average is," The T's CFO Rob Harmon said. "Once we get this fare increase it will be about equal to the national average."

Many riders say in the middle of an economic recession, and rate hike is too much.

"They shouldn't do it because they've got a lot of people that's catching the train," Demarcus White said.

Fort Worth resident James Rutherford agrees.

"I feel like there needs to be more stops if they're going to justify increasing the rate to $7.50," Rutherford said.

While rail service and some express commuter routes will be increasing, The T is not increasing fares on local bus service, which accounts for most of its ridership.

The rate increase will go into effect Sept. 14.

You can comment about the proposed changes by calling The T's recorded comment hotline at (817) 215-8669 or by sending an email through The T's Web site.