MTA to hold public hearings on fare, route changes

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • April 22, 2008 The Metro Transit Authority will hold four public hearings next month on possible fare increases and route cuts as it faces a difficult budget year starting in July. The authority is considering increases of as much as 25 cents to the $1.35 basic bus fare, it said in a news release today. The basic fare rose from $1.25 to $1.35 in February. MTA also is considering eliminating or changing the following routes: 1 Vine Hill; 2 Belmont; 8 8th Avenue South; 13 Sylvan Park; 16 Madison/Old Hickory; 18 Airport/Elm Hill Pike; 30 McFerrin; 31X Harpeth Valley Express; 37X Tusculum/McMurray Express; 41 Golden Valley, and 45X Oak Hill Express. MTA is facing a $2.9 million budget shortfall in 2008-09, CEO Paul Ballard said last week. It expects to spend about $6 million on diesel fuel, an approximately 50 percent increase from the current fiscal year's roughly $4 million fuel cost. The public hearings will be held May 5 at 6 p.m. in Rochelle Center (Building A), 1020 Southside Court; May 6 at noon and 5:30 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., and May 8 at 6 p.m. at Madison Library, 610 Gallatin Pike. People also can fax comments to (615) 862-6208 or e-mail them to mta.publichearings@nashville.gov through May 14, 2008. They also can call (615) 862-5950 or write to MTA at 130 Nestor St., Nashville, TN 37210.