Central Oregon public transit to start collecting fares for first time since 2020 – Oregon Public Broadcasting – OPB

Report on the Reinstatement of Fares for Cascades East Transit and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

Cascades East Transit (CET), the public transportation provider for Central Oregon, has announced the reinstatement of transit fares effective January, following a period of fare-free service initiated during the pandemic. This decision, aimed at ensuring financial sustainability and funding service expansion, has significant implications for the region’s progress towards several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning poverty, inequality, and sustainable communities.

2.0 Operational and Financial Context

The decision to reintroduce fares is framed by CET’s operational and financial objectives. The transit system, which provided over 600,000 rides last year, seeks to generate an estimated $1.5 million in annual revenue from fare collection. This revenue is intended to balance the budget and facilitate service expansion in line with the “Cascades East Transit (CET) 2040 Transit Development Plan.”

• Stated Rationale: To foster rider accountability, create a sense of community investment, and secure funding for service improvements.
• Ridership Impact: CET served a record number of passengers in the last six years. Officials anticipate a potential ridership decrease of up to 15% following the reintroduction of fares.
• Payment Modernization: A new fare collection system will be implemented, utilizing a smartphone app and transit cards, while still accepting cash in some circumstances.

3.0 Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The reinstatement of fares presents a direct conflict with the principles of several SDGs, primarily by creating financial barriers for vulnerable populations.

3.1 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Target 11.2 calls for providing access to safe, affordable, and accessible transport systems for all, with special attention to those in vulnerable situations. The CET decision impacts this goal in several ways:

• Affordability and Accessibility: The introduction of fares directly challenges the “affordable” and “accessible” components of Target 11.2, potentially limiting mobility for low-income residents, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
• Public Transit Expansion: While the revenue is intended for service expansion, a significant drop in ridership would be counterproductive to the overarching goal of increasing public transit use to create more sustainable communities.

3.2 SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Public transit is a key mechanism for reducing inequality by providing equitable access to employment, education, and healthcare. The new fare structure may exacerbate existing inequalities.

• Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Organizations like the Council on Aging have expressed concern that any new barrier to transportation disproportionately affects older adults. The lack of monthly or annual passes for Dial-A-Ride users is a specific point of concern for those who rely heavily on the service.
• Discounts as Mitigation: CET projects that 75% of riders will qualify for discounts. However, the effectiveness of these programs in fully mitigating the financial burden on the most vulnerable populations remains to be seen.

3.3 SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

Access to affordable transportation is intrinsically linked to poverty reduction and health outcomes.

• Economic Access: For individuals living in or near poverty, transportation costs can be a significant barrier to accessing employment, thereby hindering progress on SDG 1.
• Healthcare Access: The Dial-A-Ride service is critical for seniors and persons with disabilities attending medical appointments. Increased costs could lead to missed appointments and negative health outcomes, undermining SDG 3.

4.0 Proposed Fare Structure and Public Response

The new fare system introduces varied costs across different services.

1. Standard Fixed-Route Fare: $2.00
2. Dial-A-Ride: $4.00 (with the first 10 rides per month for Bend users priced at the standard rate)
3. Bend to Redmond Municipal Airport: $15.00

Public reaction has been mixed, highlighting the tension between the necessity of the service and its cost.

• Concerned Riders: Seniors and disabled users have expressed worry over the cumulative cost of essential travel, especially without daily or monthly fare caps for specialized services.
• Advocacy Group Concerns: The Council on Aging emphasized that transportation is already a major challenge for seniors, and the new fares add another layer of difficulty.

5.0 Conclusion

The decision by Cascades East Transit to reinstate fares illustrates a fundamental challenge in public service provision: balancing financial sustainability with social equity and environmental goals. While the move is projected to secure $1.5 million for operational stability and future expansion, it simultaneously risks undermining progress on key Sustainable Development Goals. The potential decrease in ridership and the increased financial burden on vulnerable populations present significant challenges to achieving the objectives of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in the Central Oregon region.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article is centered on public transportation (Cascades East Transit – CET), a key component of sustainable urban infrastructure. It discusses the system’s operations, funding, expansion plans, and accessibility for residents in Central Oregon, from Warm Springs to La Pine.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article highlights the potential impact of reintroducing fares on vulnerable populations, specifically “elderly and disabled people.” The concerns raised by the Council on Aging and individual riders about affordability and access directly relate to ensuring equal opportunities for all members of the community.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The financial health and sustainability of the transit system are discussed as a basis for its continued operation and expansion. The article mentions that the “projected fare revenue will help balance this year’s budget and next year’s,” and notes the system’s revenue has “grown about sevenfold over the past 13 years,” positioning the transit system as an economic entity supporting the community.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. The article directly addresses the affordability (reintroduction of fares), accessibility (Dial-A-Ride for elderly and disabled), and sustainability (using fare revenue for budget and expansion) of the CET system.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The debate over fares for services like Dial-A-Ride, which serves elderly and disabled users, is a direct reflection of this target. The article notes that “transportation costs are one of the biggest challenges for seniors,” and the new fare structure could impact their social and economic inclusion.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances… While not a direct focus, the article’s discussion of the transit system’s financial management, such as the projection that “fareboxes will bring in $1.5 million in annual revenue,” relates to the economic sustainability of public infrastructure that underpins broader economic activity in the region.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Ridership numbers: The article states CET “moved over 600,000 people last year” and that “ridership was the highest it has been in the past six years.” A potential drop of “as much as 15%” due to new fares is also mentioned. These figures serve as direct indicators of public transport usage.
• Cost of transport: Specific fare prices are listed, such as “$2” for most fares, “$4” for Dial-A-Ride, and “$15” for the airport route. These figures measure the affordability of the system.
• Accessibility for vulnerable groups: The provision of “on-demand rides for elderly and disabled people” (Dial-A-Ride) and the fact that “about 75% of CET’s riders will qualify for some type of discount” are indicators of the system’s accessibility.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Differential pricing structures: The article points out there is “no maximum daily rate, monthly pass or annual pass for Dial-A-Ride users,” which is a specific policy detail that can be used as an indicator to measure potential inequalities in cost burden for those most reliant on the service.
• Concerns from advocacy groups: The statement from the Council on Aging expressing concern “about anything that makes accessing transportation more challenging for older adults” serves as a qualitative indicator of the impact on vulnerable populations.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Revenue generation: The projection that fares will bring in “$1.5 million in annual revenue” is a clear financial indicator.
• Historical financial growth: The statement that the “transit system’s total revenue has grown about sevenfold over the past 13 years” is an indicator of the system’s long-term economic performance and sustainability.

Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: opb.org