Fuel prices not forcing CAT cuts

Monday, Sept. 25, 2000 | 11:42 a.m.

Increasing fuel costs have not prompted the Regional Transportation Commission to drop new bus routes or delay planned new programs, according to RTC officials who countered a news report over the weekend.

RTC spokeswoman Ingrid Yocum said that her agency planned for higher gas costs when it submitted this year's budget for its Citizens Area Transit bus system. While more money is used to cover fuel prices, no new programs have been canceled.

"We saw fuel prices go up so we had to budget more," Yocum said. "If the money is not going to fuel, sure, it could go to something else, but we budgeted for this."

Yocum said the RTC hasn't discussed cutting back on service or raising fares because of fuel costs. While the average fare box recovery for transit systems is 30 percent, the CAT system keeps 50 percent after operation and maintenance costs.

The CAT system is partially funded by fares, which on most routes were upped last year from $1 to $1.50 and on the popular Las Vegas Strip route from $1.50 to $2. The increased fares were expected to generate $6 million for the RTC. The system is also funded with federal dollars and a quarter-cent sales tax.

The RTC's budget for fuel was increased this fiscal year to $6.6 million, up about $2.3 million from last year.