Two city buses waited at Albany Station one day in October 2021. Riding the Albany transit routes and the Loop bus to LBCC and OSU will remain free.
If you’re a regular rider on Albany’s city bus system, this may be of interest: The system went fareless in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic, and now riding the buses will remain that way — free.
Barry Hoffman, who manages the Albany Transit System, including call-a-rides and the Linn-Benton Loop system, recommended that the no-fare setup be continued. On Monday the Albany City Council agreed, and the vote was unanimous.
At the root of the recommendation and the council’s decision was that collecting fares wasn’t worth the trouble and expense in additional personnel costs.
Fares on the Albany system used to be one dollar for adults and 50 cents for youth, seniors and the disabled. Only kids under 6 rode for free.
The last full year when fares were collected was fiscal 2018-19. The Albany bus system, Loop and call-a-ride counted 180,000 rides that year and took in about $81,000 in fares. Budgeted expenses were more than $2 million, heavily subsidized by federal grants.
The city bus system runs Monday through Friday. If I’m calculating correctly, the ridership total from four years ago came out to about 690 passengers a day. That doesn’t seem like much, but if you rely on the bus to get to school or work, or the doctor or the store, you need the bus no matter how many other people use it too.
For years the Albany system has run two or three circular routes that were time-consuming to use. The city developed a plan for three back-and-forth, connecting routes that should make the system more useful.
Hoffman said the new routes may start in July. Before that happens, there will be a publicity campaign to let people know that the change is on its way. (hh)
Transit manager Barry Hoffman talks to the city council on Monday.
One of their reasons was to better serve the high school students,
South Albany has a bus stop directly in front on Columbus and in the back on Waverly.
West Albany has a stop on Elm, so a 3-4 block walk. Less for Memorial middle? school.
They intend to eliminate the stop at the Boys & Girls club. Apparently they don’t give a rats behind about the younger children.
Funny how the hh regulars can always find something to gripe about no matter the topic. Sad.
Yep. Always the wrong thing to do, or the fault of government which they all have an equal chance to vote for.
“dis·grun·tled” , adjective: angry or dissatisfied.
Seems like there are never enough gruntled people around to make life easier.
Was it the message, which you apparently didn’t bother to read, or the messenger?
Pot-Kettle-Black-Hypocrite
Free? That made me laugh.
Taxpayers still pay for bus rides. Payment just doesn’t happen at the fare box.
Are Call-a-rides going to be free also?
Yes. Barry Hoffman reminded me that according to federal rules, paratransit services such as call-a-ride can’t charge more than double the regular transit fare. Double of nothing is still nothing. He says it’s been that way since the start of the pandemic.
Free is never free, it’s usually more expensive.
Be a bum or be a fat cat, but for godsakes don’t be in between unless you want to be a beast of burden.
Matthew Calhoun, a lively debate is good as long as it doesn’t get nasty. This particular format in my opinion is perfect for brief comments and even disagreements. Stay factual, friendly, and courteous. Oh yes, and no name calling. Have a great day everyone!
Unfortunately HH’s regulars have never abided but those rules and continue to be allowed to do so, despite recent grumbling by the author. Constant grumpiness, perpetual distaste for anything new in the community, and commenter misinformation seems to get too many clicks.
You are correct. I saw that bit Hasso posted about the nastiness. I knew it wouldn’t last long. Turns out I was right.
I understand that free isn’t free. I also think this is a wonderful service. There are many people out there that can’t afford a vehicle to drive, let alone a cab. It takes more than gas to maintain a vehicle. As far as the boys and girls club stop. I understand school busses do drop offs there on a daily basis.
Free? I love that word in the context of government service.
The library is free, right?
Parks are free, right?
And no one has to pay when a police officer or firefighters show up to help you, right?
It’s all free, but only if you ignore
– your property tax bill
– the income tax you pay to the state and feds
– buy goods & services subject to the corporate income and gross receipts tax
– smoke cigarettes
– buy gas
– smoke marijuana
– and probably 10 other things I haven’t identified.
Oh, and what about all those wonderful franchise (monopoly) services you receive like communications, transportation, garbage, and electricity?
You get a monthly bill for your usage. But did you know you are also paying a hidden tax to the City of Albany for this “privilege”?
The city charges every franchisee a fee for the “privilege” of serving you. Do you think the companies don’t pass this fee along to you in their rate structure?
Think again, grasshopper.
Nothing from government is “free.”
Seems there’s a lot of nitpicking about what “free” means. But in this context the meaning is clear. It means that if you get on an Albany Transit System bus, you don’t have to pay for the ride.
As an ex-editor who supposedly respects the meaning of words, I’m disappointed that your use of the word “free”, in the context of government service, is so expansive.
Nitpicking? Hardly.
Definition: Free, adjective, not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.
Your reply is a classic example of limited thinking…Google it.
@Anony Mouse
Impersonate SHADLE much?
hj, throwing some SHADE is a time honored tradition.
Keep it up.
Free means you can leave your billfold in your pocket for the ride
Last I heard, the cost of a ride on the bus was over $7,00 to the City because there are so few people on the buses. Loop stays loaded, but the others not so much.