Metrolink Advised to Cut Fares on Short Trips to Lure Riders

Metrolink should consider cutting its fares for short trips from Ventura County to the San Fernando Valley to lure more riders onto the new commuter trains running between Moorpark and downtown Los Angeles.

That’s the view of many Ventura County transportation leaders who believe that Metrolink’s high ticket prices--such as $5.50 one way between Simi Valley and Van Nuys--are causing many short-distance commuters to stay on the region’s clogged freeways.

Part of the problem, Simi Valley City Councilman Bill Davis said, is that the train system’s fares were set up for long-distance commuters. Davis serves on the regional board that oversees Metrolink.

“I know how and why they’re doing things a certain way,” Davis said of the Metrolink fare plan. “But we’re trying to build ridership.”

Davis also serves on the Ventura County Transportation Commission, which received a Metrolink briefing during its monthly meeting last Friday in Camarillo.

Commissioners said they were pleased that paid ridership on Metrolink’s line for Ventura County exceeded projections last week. But they urged their staff members to raise concerns about the fares with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which runs Metrolink.

Davis said many Simi Valley residents have told him that they would ride the train to and from work in Chatsworth if the fare was less than the current $4.50 each way. Davis suggested lowering it to $2.50 or $3 each way.

Mary Travis, the Ventura County commission’s manager of transit programs, said Friday that she had already told Metrolink officials about the concerns raised by Davis and other Ventura County leaders.

“It likely won’t make that much difference in revenue,” Travis said. “But a small adjustment like that could boost the ridership.”

Metrolink spokesman Peter Hidalgo said the regional rail board will discuss ticket prices at its regular meeting on Friday.

“We will be taking another look at our fare structure,” he said. Hidalgo did not predict any immediate action but said the a large number of inquiries and comments is prompting Metrolink officials to review the fares.

In its first week of free travel, beginning Oct. 26, the line for Ventura County carried more than 2,400 riders on some days.

During the past week, when tickets were required, the line averaged about 1,200 riders per day or about 600 in each direction, Metrolink officials said. They said the total exceeded their projections of about 900 riders per day.

The line stops in Moorpark, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale and Union Station in Los Angeles. Metrolink officials said figures on how many passengers board or leave at each stop will not be available for several weeks.