Opposition doesn't sway council on paratransit rates

The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday did what hasn’t been done in 20 years – raise the price of a paratransit ride in Sioux Falls.

After nearly an hour of emotional testimony from users of the door-to-door transportation service and their family members, the City Council voted 7-1 to increase the price of a paratransit ride to $2.50 per trip. Paratransit fares had been held at $2 since 1996.

“This is a tough vote for me,” said Councilor Kenny Anderson Jr., a former paratransit driver, as he fought back tears. “I have fought over eight years (against) any increases, but I also spoke to a lot of my old passengers and a lot of them have said they don’t want to be a burden onto the city, and I don’t want them to think they are.”

Introduced earlier this month by Anderson and Councilor Rex Rolfing, the fare increase is estimated to generate $60,000 in additional revenue each year. Under the original proposal, the bump in revenue would have helped pay general expenses for the entire transit system – paratransit and fixed route busing. But an amendment offered by Councilor Kermit Staggers, which earned enough votes to pass, earmarked the extra money exclusively for paratransit expenses.

“It’s not going to be used for anything else,” Staggers said.

Audit: Raise paratransit rates

The votes came after several voiced opposition to the increases. In a statement read by his father, paratransit user and Public Transportation Advisory Board member Brett Glirbas questioned how increases can be justified when paratransit coverage areas and services have been reduced in recent years.

“I believe that an increase in service area is more overdue than a fare increase is,” Glirbas said.

Melanie Bliss, who’s spent the last 14 years advocating for the city’s underserved populations, said raising fares by 50 cents amounts to a 25 percent increase. Because paratransit users typically rely on disability income or a nominal amount of government benefits, such a steep rate hike will be too burdensome for most.

The lone no vote against the increases, Councilor Rick Kiley said the $60,000 generated from the new fares isn’t enough to justify placing more of a financial burden on paratransit users, especially when the city already subsidizes the service so heavily.

“You can see both sides of this argument, but the impact it would have on the individuals who rely on paratransit, I’m afraid it will be much greater … than what that additional $60,000 would mean to the city and our overall city budget.”

The new rates are expected to take effect in mid-March.

Follow Joe Sneve on Twitter @Argus_Joe.