Public Hearing to be Held September 23rd on Proposed Bus Service Adjustments and Increases to Bus Fares and Passes

The Broward County Commission will hold a public meeting at 2PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at the Broward County Governmental Center, Room 422, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, to receive public comments on Broward County Transit (BCT) proposed bus service adjustments and bus fares and pass increases.

If approved, the proposed increase to bus fares and passes would become effective over two, fiscal year periods: October 1, 2014 and October 1, 2015. The proposed bus service adjustments will become effective October 13, 2014 for the 595 Express Bus Service, and in January 2015 for the US 1 Breeze Limited-Stop service.

Following is a description of the proposed fare and pass increases:

The regular, one-way cash fare will increase from $1.75 to $2 and the reduced, one-way cash fare will increase from $.85 to $1 in October 2015. The regular, All-Day pass will increase from $4 to $5 and the reduced, All-Day pass will increase from $3 to $4 in October 2015.

The 7-Day and 10-Ride passes will increase from $16 to $18 in October 2014 and to $20 in October 2015. The 31-Day Adult pass will increase from $58 to $65 in October 2014 and to $70 in October 2015. The 31-Day Reduced pass will increase from $29 to $35 in October 2014 and to $40 in October 2015. The 31-Day Reduced College Student pass will increase from $40 to $50 in October 2014.

The Premium Express one-way cash fare will increase from $2.35 to $2.65 in October 2014 and the Premium Express reduced one-way cash fare will increase from $1.15 to $1.30. The Premium Express 31-Day bus pass will increase from $85 to $95 in October 2014. The Premium Express 10-Ride bus pass will increase from $23.50 to $26.50 in October 2014. There are no proposed increases to the Premium Express cash and bus passes in October 2015.

All current bus passes will continue to work through their expiration date. BCT’s transfer fee structures to and from Miami-Dade, Palm Tran and Tri-Rail transit systems will remain the same.

Below is a brief description of the proposed service adjustments, effective October 13, 2014:

595 Express Sunrise (BB&T Center) to downtown Miami/Brickell
• Service improved from 30 to every 15 minutes at select travel times due to ridership demand
• Route will deviate to downtown Miami/Brickell; morning buses will access the Brickell

Metrorail Station via Southwest 2nd Avenue.
• Service along South Miami Avenue will be provided during afternoon and evening hours only
• Sawgrass Mills Mall bus stop will be discontinued

595 Express –Sunrise (BB&T Center) to Fort Lauderdale
• Trips during morning peak travel hours reduced from 6 to 3 trips
• Trips during afternoon peak travel hours reduced from 7 to 3 trips
• Westbound reverse trips will be discontinued
• Fort Lauderdale Tri-Rail Station and Sawgrass Mills Mall bus stops will be discontinued

595 Express – Westgate Square to Miami Civic Center
• Service improved from 30 to every 15 minutes at select travel times due to ridership demand
• Griffin Road Tri-Rail Station bus stop will be discontinued
• New, Davie Park-and-Ride location added at State Road 84 and Davie Road Extension; 108 commuter parking spaces will be available
• Civic Center/Health District afternoon routing revised to same as the morning peak hour routing

Below is a brief description of the proposed service adjustment, effective in January 2015:

US 1 “Breeze” Limited-Stop
• Service will be discontinued north of Broward Boulevard due to low ridership
• Service will be improved south of Broward Boulevard all-day from 30 to every 20 minutes

Community meetings will be held to allow bus passengers to review and comment on the proposed service changes on Wednesday, September 10, 6PM, Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, Pompano Beach; Saturday, September 13, 2PM, Imperial Point Branch Library, Fort Lauderdale; Monday, September 15 , 6:30PM, Hallandale Beach Branch Library, Hallandale; Wednesday, September 17, 6PM, Main Library, Fort Lauderdale and Thursday, September 18, 6PM, Lauderhill Mall, Lauderhill.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing or community meetings should call 954-357-8355 or 954-357-8302 (TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the meetings.

For more information, including details on the proposed bus fare and service changes, call the BCT Customer Service Center at 954-357-8400 or visit Broward.org/BCT.