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 RT Press Release
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RT to Hold Public Hearing on Monday, March 8 - Major Service Reductions and Additional Layoffs Proposed for June 2010
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CONTACT:
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Alane Masui
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Thursday, March 04, 2010
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PHONE:
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916-556-0121
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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To address an estimated $13 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2010 and a cumulative $25 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) will hold a public hearing to discuss proposed service changes for implementation on June 20, 2010. The public hearing will be held on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 4 p.m. in the RT Auditorium located at 1400 29th Street (at N Street).
RT ridership and fare revenue have been adversely affected by the downturn in the economy, state furloughs and high unemployment. Fare revenue is now projected to be approximately $7.9 million below budget and sales tax based revenues dedicated to transit continue to decline.
State sales tax revenue, which experienced a decline this past summer of 8.8 percent, was further reduced by 10 percent in mid-February, for a total reduction of 18.8 percent or $2.6 million for Fiscal Year 2010, and is expected to further decline by 14 percent or $3.9 million in Fiscal Year 2011. In addition, Measure A local sales tax revenue is expected to experience a $2.6 million reduction for Fiscal Year 2010 and potentially another $3.9 million reduction for Fiscal Year 2011.
Despite a number of cost-cutting measures – including service reductions in September 2009, fare increases in January 2009 and September 2009, a hiring freeze, freezing employee pay, employee furloughs, and 60 layoffs scheduled for April 2010 – the RT Board must now consider the reduction, realignment or elimination of bus, light rail and paratransit service, as well as other cost-cutting measures to achieve up to $25 million in cost savings. Major service reductions will result in additional layoffs of operators, mechanics and RT staff who support the operation and maintenance of bus and light rail service.
Nine service reduction scenarios will be presented as potential options, but RT staff will seek input from the RT Board and the public regarding all routes and services.
The proposed service changes are scheduled for adoption by the RT Board on Monday, March 22, 2010, and if approved, would be implemented on Sunday, June 20, 2010.
Service change comments may be submitted in writing to the Planning department at P.O. Box 2110, Sacramento, CA 95812-2110 or by e-mail to servicechanges@sacrt.com, and must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010.
To view the staff report, visit www.sacrt.com and click on the “March 8 Public Hearing” icon on the home page. For route, schedule and fare information, call 916-321-BUSS (2877) or visit www.sacrt.com.
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