RIDERS SLAM MTA FARE HIKE SENIORS, DISABLED, STUDENTS FEEL PROPOSAL TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

Scores of bus riders spoke out during an impassioned public hearing Saturday against the MTA's proposed new fares, which they said would balance the agency's budget on the backs of the working poor.

Single parents, students, seniors and the disabled - along with members of the Bus Riders Union - practically filled the boardroom for the nearly two-hour hearing.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board took no action and is scheduled to vote May 22.

``People can't afford it,'' said Eric Mann, director of the parent organization of the Bus Riders Union, which sued the MTA to reduce bus overcrowding.

Sherman Oaks single dad Byron Byrd said he can't afford the fare hike on his pay as a public school art teacher.

``Raising the fare is like taking the food out of our children's mouths,'' said the 25 year-old, who brought his 5-year-old daughter to the hearing.

``I'm too old to change,'' said 70-year-old Howard O. Watts of Hollywood. ``Keep the prices we have now. When the aged and disabled individuals come to you, you should not discriminate against them. I say, No to any rate increases by the MTA.''

The proposal calls for lowering one-way cash rates by 10 cents but increasing monthly passes by $10 for most riders, among other changes.

The agency said it needs to bring in more money from fares to help make up an expected $64 million budget shortfall for fiscal 2003-04.

The agency, which faces rising costs along with state and federal budget cuts, is spending $100 million a year to comply with the federal consent decree that came from the lawsuit, the MTA said.

The changes would bring in $50 million annually for the agency.

``We're not asking to balance our budgets on the backs of our riders - we'd like them to pay a little bit,'' said MTA spokesman Marc Littman. ``The alternative is to cut service.''

Littman also rejected the Bus Riders Union's repeated calls to stop work on the MTA's new train projects in favor of buses.

``Just adding more buses is not going to help,'' he said.

But the proposed fare changes were lambasted during the often-raucous public hearing.

``These people need the buses,'' said Alvivon Hurd, a member of the Association of Community Organizations for Relief Now, in an impassioned plea to the board.

Another speaker got the crowd to join in with shouts of ``Shame!''

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry sent representatives to register their opposition.

A few speakers supported aspects of the changes, including the president of the Southern California Transit Advocates, who noted in a letter to the board the alternative of ``unacceptable reductions in service.''

The proposal calls for reducing the cash fare from $1.35 to $1.25 for each one-way bus or train trip. It also would eliminate 25-cent transfers, instead requiring another $1.25 for a second bus or train. A new $3 day pass would be offered for unlimited rides.

The proposal also calls for discontinuing MTA tokens - sold in bundles of 10 for $9 and the cheapest ride. Staff presented a modified option Saturday that would keep the tokens at a higher $1.10 rate.

Monthly passes would increase from $42 to $52, but passes for students, seniors and the disabled would stay at current prices.

Under another option - and if tokens are continued - passes for those groups would change from $20 to $24 for K-12 students; $30 to $36 for college students; and $12 to $15 for the disabled.

The change would be the first since 1995. If approved, the proposal could take effect after Nov. 1.