Seniors who use Carbon County Community Transit may see an increase in the ticket price for rides, beginning March 1.

On Thursday, CCCT, managed by the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, held a public hearing prior to the county commissioners' meeting to give the public time to comment about the proposed paratransit, commonly known as the shared ride, fare increases.The paratransit serves approximately 60,000 riders annually.Melissa Gemelli, deputy executive director of LANTA, read a prepared statement at the beginning of the hearing prior to public comment.The proposed increasesGemelli said fares are "proposed to increase by an average of 20 percent." The last fare increase was March 1, 2009.In addition to fare increases, riders will now use a zone-based fare rate rather than the current flat rate for services, as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Lynx fixed bus route fares, which on certain days travel to distances such as the Lehigh Valley Mall and Hometown Farmers Market, will remain the same.Gemelli said that the proposed increase for paratransit fares averages between $19.95 and $24. Fares for people riding under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 will also follow the same rate structure, but the fare will not exceed $5 for trips greater than 21 miles.The proposed rates are based in 7-mile increments. For example, zone 1, which takes a passenger from 0 to 6.99 miles, the full fare for 20 tickets is $21, up from the current cost of $18, with the cost for a one-way trip ticket for Area Agency on Aging Sponsored trips to $1.05, up from the current rate of 90-cents. For non-AAA sponsored trips, the fare is $3.15, up from $2.70.Community speaks outElayne Holland, a senior residing in Jim Thorpe, was the only member of the public in attendance and voiced her concern over the increase."You said the increase will be 20 percent but being a senior and watching where the vans go, a tremendous amount of people in the area go to Walmart and Giant. These people (living in areas like Nesquehoning, Palmerton and Jim Thorpe) will now fall into zone 2 so their fare increase is more like 38 percent," Holland said, adding that for someone wanting to go to Palmerton from the Panther Valley or Jim Thorpe will now see ticket prices nearly double due to the fare increase. "In a time when seniors did not get any type of increase in their Social Security, it's really going to be an effect on them. It's almost going to double transportation with the new zones."Gemelli said that the average of all fare rates is what the 20 percent increase represents.Holland asked how CCCT can say that the average is only 20 percent because of the zones."You tell me there are more people going out-of-county every day than on local trips to the grocery store?" she asked. "I cannot believe that, based on where I see the vans going."Gemelli said that the company used current travel patterns to determine the figures.She said ride tickets will be sold in either packs of 20 or for a single ride, but must be purchased ahead of time either by mail, calling the office or speaking with a bus driver ahead of time.The commissioners also weighed in on the proposed increases.Commissioner William O'Gurek, who spoke at length about recommendations the county and LANTA received about the transportation system moving forward.Recommendations include assessing the effectiveness of the Lynx fixed route service, which serves approximately 4,000 riders annually; and adjusting the bus services to better meet the customers' needs."I really hope we give that serious consideration," O'Gurek said, noting that he is under the impression that there just aren't enough people riding the Lynx, which partially is the reason for the need for the fare increases. "The shared ride seems to be more popular and more convenient for people to get to and from where they need to be as opposed to the fixed bus routes."PennDOT hopes that the county can come up with a strategy to have a potential cost savings or make adjustments and use the money that is made to minimize the increases going forward.The LynxGemelli said that LANTA is looking at that, and noted that senior citizens can ride the Lynx for free.Holland said the main problem with the Lynx is that seniors aren't aware of it."The seniors don't know about the Lynx and the community doesn't know about the Lynx," she said, noting that she only knows about it because of a sign she saw on North Street in Jim Thorpe that says "Call this number ... This is a bus stop.""I called and low and behold, there is a bus route," she told the commissioners, noting that she used the Lynx to get to the hearing. "I have talked with many people, no one knows about it and no one is telling us, 'Hey, if you are 65 or older you can go across the county for free (on the Lynx).'"The commissioners said that they and LANTA plan to work on creating a marketing plan to raise awareness of the routes.Services currently providedCCCT offers van services from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customer must call in advance to reserve a trip. Call-in hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.The LYNX operates fixed route services to the Lehigh Valley Mall and points in southern Carbon County on Tuesdays and Thursdays; between Nesquehoning and Walnutport with stops in Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Palmerton, Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays; and between Nesquehoning and Tamaqua, with stops in Hometown, Tamaqua and areas in the Panther Valley on Wednesdays.For more information on what Carbon County Community Transit offers in the form of public transportation, visit

http://bit.ly/1RpO5YQ or call 570-669-6380 or 1-800-990-4287.