Winston-Salem Bus Passengers Could See Higher Fares

Winston-Salem City Council members are considering raising bus fares to address a projected shortfall in the public transit budget. The city estimates it could be millions of dollars in the red over the next few years.

What's triggering the likely decline in revenues for the Winston-Salem transit system?

For starters, the city has added more services including night and Sunday routes. Secondly, the demand for the Trans-Aid service has boomed. It provides bus stops for the elderly and disabled at a cheaper fare.

City leaders also expect a decrease in federal dollars with changes in the funding formula.

Currently, it costs $1 to ride the bus in Winston-Salem, and $0.50 for Trans-Aid services. Medicaid recipients ride free.

Councilman Dan Besse says a fee hike may be overdue.

“All of those fares are the lowest in the state and they have not been increased in over a decade.”

Besse says that's not the only option. City leaders are also looking at other possible revenue sources, like a car registration fee.

"There's a local fee on automobiles registered in the city that we could increase," says Besse. "There's also the amount that comes directly from our property tax revenue that we could elect to increase.” 

Winston-Salem City Council will look at proposals for the transit budget in the spring. A public hearing on the matter is expected to take place in the summer.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news