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Fare hikes like death, taxes, bus rider laments

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Benchmark- Marty Remo-CDPE, E-Pro

March 30, 2009 02:16 AM

Commuters who use Short Line are of mixed minds about the fare increase that they will face May 3.

Barbara Pfeiffer of Monroe: "I'm unhappy. I'm struggling to make ends meet - people are struggling all over - and Short Line's answer to this is to raise fares. What I don't understand is that rising gas prices are no longer a real factor and most companies are freezing salaries at this time, mine included, so why can't Short Line do the same? At least until this depression/recession is under control?"

Gary Gomes of Goshen: "Well, like death and taxes, price hikes you can count on. I don't necessarily buy the company's excuses. I can buy into the reasoning of the loss of the state DOT subsidy, but do they really think that this won't drive more people to Monroe and Central Valley? I've given up believing common sense can prevail with Short Line. Here's hoping the commuter rail link direct to midtown occurs within my lifetime."

Linda Cancel of Chester: "I can't believe I'm saying this, but considering how much everything else is going up, I'm just happy that it'll only be a 4 percent increase. I don't think this is too bad at all. Now, if they'll only give us newer buses, I'd be much happier."

Paul Weireter of Highland Mills: "I don't want an increase and I don't think that the bus company has been honest with us. If it were more transparent with its financial information, perhaps an increase could be justified; then again, perhaps not. The buses seem to be dirtier and the lines longer and several times there weren't enough seats on buses and nothing was done or said."

Anne Stuhler of Central Valley: "There is not much that can be done because people need to work in the city in order to afford living in Orange County. The Short Line schedule out of Ridgewood is much better than Central Valley so I am now driving down to the park-and-ride there. At least I still have a job to go to for now and the increase is still cheaper than what the railroad increase will be."

judyrife@gmail.com