The Travelin’ Grampa

Touring the USA without an automobile

Focus on safe, fast, convenient, comfortable, cheap travel, via public transit.

Vol. 7, No. 6, June 2014

Illustrations credit: Delaware River & Bay Authority.

Cape May Ferry walk-on fare for passengers age 62&+ has been reduced to $8 one-way and $6 for return trip from April thru October, effective May 23. This is more than 10% off the regular adult passenger fare.

Shuttle buses connect Cape May Ferry to the world Cape May, N.J., is a lovely place to daytrip, weekend or summer. A really nice way to get there is on a ferryboat from Lewes, Delaware. Tourists and vacationers in Cape May likewise can enjoy a delightful ride on this ferry boat to quaint and historic Lewes. Grampa rode it often in the many years he resided in Cape May and worked in Washington DC. In both towns, the ferry is reachable via shuttle buses. On the Delaware side, they connect with the state-wide DART bus system serving Rehoboth Beach and other Delaware seashore communities, plus Ocean City, Maryland. On the Jersey side, shuttles loop between the ferry terminal and downtown Cape May. They run seven days a week from June 16 to Sept. 28. Shuttle fare: $4. No senior discount.

Photo credits: CNU Project for Transportation Reform; BART; Michael C. Berch, Wikipedia.

Golden Gate Transit Route 42 bus, left, runs between El Cerrito-Del Norte and Richmond BART train stations and Golden Gate Larkspur Ferry, right. By this route, Grampa recently rode round-trip from-to on BART trains for $1.60, Golden Gate bus $2.25, and boat $4.75, using his Senior Clipper farecard to pay all fares. These fares no longer apply after July 1, 2014. See story on page 10.

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What bus fares to expect when you go traveling this summer Seniors traveling to popular destinations and attractions this summer will discover in too many instances slightly higher fares, eroded service, equipment not especially meticulously maintained, and considerable crowding on buses, streetcars, trains and planes. Over-all, however, public transportation remains an excellent way to get to and from the USA’s metropolitan areas and their popular attractions, parks, beaches, etc. Following are top tourist-attractive areas Grampa has visited. Listed are each popular destination’s major public transit system and its web address, local bus adult cash base fare and reduced base fare that can be paid by a senior citizen rider. Asterisk (*) indicates fare during off-peak hours or paid via “smart” farecard. Subway, light rail or other local fixed-route vehicle fares often are the same as bus fare. Exceptions include San Francisco’s antique cable cars and San Diego’s “Trolley.” Express bus fare usually is more than local bus fare. Some buses, as in New Jersey, charge by zone. So, fare below is for one zone. Some transit buses let seniors ride without paying who show a proper ID, e.g., in Pennsylvania and some areas of Illinois and Maryland. Following are fares on July 1, 2014.

Municipality Web address Adult fare Senior

Atlanta, Ga. www.itsmarta.com $2.50 $1.00 Atlantic City, N.J. www.jitneyac.com/pricing $2.25 .75 Austin, Tex. www.caometro,org $1.00 .50 , Md. www. mta.maryland.gov $1.60 .55 , Mass. …… …….. www.mbta.com … … … $2.10 * .80 , Ill. www.transitchicago.com $2.25 $1.10 Connecticut www.CTTransit.com $1.50 .75 Dallas, Tex. www.dart.org $2.50 $1.25 Denver, Colo. www.rtd-denver.com $2.25 $1.10 Fort Worth, Tex. ……….... www.the-t.com...... $1.75 .85 Honolulu, Hawaii www.thebus.org $2.50 $1.00 , Tex. www.ridemetro.org $1.25 .60 Las Vegas, Nev. www.rtcsnv.com $2.00 $1.00 , Calif. www.metro.net $1.50 .75 / * .35 , Fla...…… ……… www.miamidade.gov/transit . $2.25 $1.10 New Jersey www.njtransit.com $1.50 .70 New Orleans, La,. www.norta.com $1.25 .40 , N.Y. www.mta.info $2.50 $1.25 Orange County, Calif. www.octa.net $2.00 .75 Orlando, Fla.…… …… …. www.golynx.com...... $2.00 $1.00 , Pa. www.septa.org $2.25 free Phoenix, Ariz. www.valleymetro.org $2.00 $1.00 Pittsburgh, Pa. www.portauthority.org $2.50 free San Antonio, Tex. www.viainfo.net $1.20 .60 San Diego, Calif.… … …. www.sdmts.com...... $2.25 $1.10 Saint Louis, Mo. www.metrostlouis.org $2.00 $1.00 San Francisco, Calif. www.sfmta.com $2.00 .75 Santa Cruz, Calif. www.scmtd.com $2.00 $1.00 Saint Petersburg, Fla. www.psta.net $2.00 $1.25 , Wash. . metro.kingcounty.gov … $2.25 * / $2.50 .75 Washington DC………….. www.wmata.com...... $1.75 .85

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Photo credits: Chicago Transit Authority; Steven Vance, Chi.StreetsBlog.org.

Chicago Transit Authority subway train and various ways to pay to ride CTA trains and CTA and Pace buses.

Chicago area riders now can pay via a variety of ways As pictured above, Chicago bus and subway-L train riders switched last summer to paying fares via a grey-colored “smart” farecard, blue-colored Ventra fare ticket, or even their own bank credit or debit cards. Cash also is accepted – on buses. CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and the suburban PACE bus system no longer sell metal tokens and paper transfers. Most CTA and PACE riders now pay $5 for a Ventra card they can keep forever. It gives back $5 of fare value after they register the card against loss, theft, etc. Infrequent riders can pay $3 for a disposable Ventra ticket for one ride plus transfer ability or a one-day pass. CTA and PACE Ventra card users pay less than cash-paying riders. The CTA Tattler blog says Ventra cards now account for 92% of CTA rides. Many low-income Chicago seniors ride free. CTA in 2012 provided 40.3-million free rides and 42.5-million reduced-fare rides. Anyone ages 65 or 65+, including non-residents can apply for a Senior Reduced Fare Permit. See next page. NOTE: February’s issue of The Travelin’ Grampa contained extensive reportage on CTA’s not very smooth switch to the new Ventra fare payment system.

Chicago Card and mag-stripe cards fade into history On July 1, CTA and PACE cash-paying riders no longer will be able to get a mag-stripe transfer card. Anyone not using a Ventra card or ticket will pay full fare for each ride. Also, the tourist-friendly now is obsolete. Until Sept. 1, Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus and magnetic stripe farecard or pass holders can have remaining values switched to a Ventra card. To have this done, out-of-towners can mail-in cards along with a filled-out form.

Adult pays $5 from O’Hare, but senior only $1.10 CTA subway-el train adult fare from O’Hare Airport is $5, using a single-ride ticket from a Ventra vending machine at O’Hare Airport station. Elsewhere a single-ride Ventra ticket costs $3, which includes a $2.25 fare plus 25¢ transfer fee plus 50¢ ticket-production cost. This system- wide single-ride ticket is not good at O’Hare Airport subway-el station. Except at O’Hare, subway-el train Ventra card adult fare is $2.25 per ride. A senior using a reduced fare permit, however, pays only $1.10 both at the airport and elsewhere. Bus fare with a Ventra card is $2 adult, $1 senior. CTA local bus cash fare is $2.25 adult, $1.10 senior. A transfer good for two additional rides within two hours is 25¢ adult, 15¢ senior. CTA day pass is $10, no matter the rider’s age.

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Chicago seniors on welfare get free rides Ventra card CTA provides more than $100-million in free and reduced-fare rides annually. Anyone age 65&+ who is enrolled in Illinois’ Benefit Access (welfare) Program, can apply for a free rides Ventra permit. Any low-income Chicago city or suburb resident who hasn’t one can apply for it in person at the Regional Transportation Authority service center at 69 W. Washington St. in Chicago. About 550,000 folks have RTA free or reduced fare or ADA paratransit ride permits.

Out-of-towners can mail-in reduced fares application Out-of-town seniors are eligible for CTA and PACE reduced fares. They can apply for a reduced fare permit by filling-out and mailing a form to the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, along with a mug-shot photo and acceptable evidence of age. To get a form, you can write to RTA Customer Service, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level, Chicago IL 60602. Or phone (312) 913-3110. A form also can be downloaded from the web at: http://www.rtachicago.com/images/stories/Senior_Application_2014.pdf Holders of an RTA reduced fare permit can pay a reduced fare per ride, or load a CTA reduced fare 30-day pass. Riders also can pay with cash on buses. CTA subway-L station turnstiles don't accept cash. Seniors are advised to seek assistance from station personnel.

CTA handy pocket-size guide on the net Chicago Transit Authority has a pocket-size Downtown Transit Sightseeing Guide at: www.transitchicago.com/visitors

Seniors pay 40¢ to ride on New Orleans bus or streetcar Seniors don't need a photo-ID issued by New Orleans Regional Transit Authority to pay a bus or streetcar reduced fare in the New Orleans area. If age 65 or above, they can show the bus driver or streetcar conductor their state-issued picture ID, driver’s license, or passport. Visiting seniors who want one as a souvenir can get it at the RTD ID Center, 2817 Canal Street, New Orleans, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by showing acceptable proof of age. It is issued there and then. Senior pays nothing for the first RTA-issued ID. However, if lost, stolen or inadvertently destroyed, a replacement costs $2. Subsequent replacements cost $5 each. For adults under age 65, RTA one-way adult fare is $1.25. A transfer costs 25¢. Adult day pass is $3. Adult 3-day pass is $9. RTA calls its passes “Jazzy pass.” A “Jazzy pass” is not a plastic permanent personal “smart” farecard, but a flexible paper mag-stripe fare ticket. Seniors pay 40¢ per ride on RTA local buses, streetcars, express buses, and even on the popular 201 Kenner Loop bus. Also, seniors get a free transfer.

Buses in New Orleans suburbs require special photo-ID Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is in Jefferson Parish, across the river from New Orleans. Jefferson Transit System, aka JeT, runs express buses to/from downtown New Orleans and the airport. In Louisiana, a county is called a parish. JeT base fare is $1.50, but $2 to cross the river. Transfer is 50¢, and not valid between JeT and RTA buses. Riders age 65&+ can get a JeT-issued half-fare card. Local bus half-fare is 75¢, crossing river $1. Transfer issued on bus is 25¢ for adult or senior. To get a half-fare requires showing bus driver a JeT-issued photo- ID card. To get one, senior must go to a JeT office in either Metairie or Gretna and present his or her Medicare card or acceptable photo-ID, e.g., driver’s license or other state-issued photo- ID. There is no charge for the card.

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Photo credits: WMATA & Destination DC; Nabinut, ChicagoBus.org.

Metrorail train at Smithsonian Station. Route D-6 Metrobus on Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington DC bus/rail fares to rise 3%; senior fare 6% Washington DC area bus and subway rides soon will cost more. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, aka WMATA, aka Metro, fares will rise an average 3% on June 29. Metrorail short trips, i.e., 3 miles or less, during off-peak hours will cost about 5¢ more, or $1.75 vs. the current $1.70 for a regular adult rider. During peak hours, it will be $2.15, vs. $2.10 now. Maximum peak-time fare will be $5.90 vs. $3.75, up 15¢ from today. Adult off-peak max will be $3.60 vs. $3.50, up 10¢. Unlimited one-day pass will cost $14.50, unlimited 7-day pass $59.25, and 7-day “short trip” pass $36. Paper farecard users will continue paying a $1 so-called “surcharge.” Riders paying with a SmarTrip card or Senior SmarTrip card do not pay this $1 fee. Metrobus regular adult fare will be $1.75 whether paid via cash or SmarTrip farecard. Fares now are $1.60 SmarTrip and $1.80 cash. Express bus rises to $4, from today’s $3.65. ► Senior/disabled Metrobus fares will increase to 85¢ from 80¢ today.

Senior SmarTrip card good deal for DC area riders “Citizens age 65 and older” can purchase for $2 a Senior SmarTrip card. It gives half-fare or better at Washington DC area Metrorail stations and an 80¢ fare on Metro regular route buses. For an additional $2 fee, its owner can be insured against its loss, theft, destruction, etc., whereby a new card can be promptly issued containing its lost fare value. To get this card, a senior goes to a Metro sales office or commuter store and presents a valid photo ID showing age. Some libraries in suburban Montgomery County, Md., also provide this card. The $2 fee covers cost of the card which, when issued, has no monetary value. Value is added at blue-colored Pass/Farecard machines at Metrorail stations – or at a bus farebox that accepts SmarTrip cards.

Photo credits: Ben Schumin, Wikipedia; WMATA; Montgomery County Government.

Senior SmarTrip card gives free rides on Montgomery County’s RideOn and Prince Georges County’s TheBus.

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Metrorail’s new Silver Line to open by Autumn Spring is best time to visit Washington DC, while its cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Autumn is almost as wonderful. Metrorail’s long awaited Silver Line is due to open just in time for September tourists, including stations at: McLean, Tyson’s Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East. This will allow transfer-free Metrorail rides to/from these five new stations and downtown Washington DC – and on to stations far away as Greenbelt, Maryland. From there Metrobus B30 express buses speed to/from BWI Airport, stopping within feet of the Baltimore Light Rail system’s BWI Airport station. Silver Line trains will share some tracks and stations with Metrorail’s Orange Line en route to/from downtown DC. A Silver Line station at Dulles International Airport is expected to open sometime in 2018. Until then, Metrobus and Fairfax Connector buses run between Metrorail and Dulles airport. By 2018, five more stations also are expected to open at: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Route 606, and Route 772. Ambitious travelers can ride Baltimore light rail from BWI Airport to Hunt Valley station, where they can catch a Rabbit Transit 83-S commuter express bus to York, Pa. From there, they can ride a Rabbit Transit 15-N express bus to the state capital at Harrisburg, Pa.

Photo credit: WMATA.

Odds are high you’ve never seen this sign. It’s in a new station of a new Metrorail Silver Line slated to open before summer’s end. Metrorail also has Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow subway - elevated lines, with 86 stations – soon to be 91 – in the District of Columbia, southern Maryland and northern Virginia.

Senior SmarTrip card good on numerous bus lines A Senior SmarTrip card is good on: Arlington’s ART bus, Fairfax’s CUE bus, Alexandria’s DASH bus, Baltimore bus/light rail/subway, DC Circulator bus, Fairfax Connector bus, Loudon County’s Tyson’s Express bus, Montgomery County’s Ride On and Prince George’s County’s TheBus. From 9:30 am to 3 pm Mon.-Fri, this card gives seniors age 65&+ free rides on RideOn buses. On TheBus, it provides seniors age 60&+ free rides Mon.-Fri. at all hours of operation.

Senior SmarTrip card not sold in subway stations Reduced fare Senior SmarTrip cards for senior citizens aren’t sold in Metrorail station vending machines. They are issued only at Metro sales offices, commuter stores, and a few public libraries. However, value can be added to the card at any passes-farecards machine at Metrorail stations or at any bus farebox that accepts SmarTrip cards.

Medicare card okay to get discount Metrobus fare To ride a Metrobus for 80¢ now and 85¢ after June 29, seniors visiting the area for only a short time needn’t purchase a Senior SmarTrip card. Before paying, they merely show the bus driver their Medicare Card or/and an acceptable photo ID such as a driver license, passport, etc. They also must show such evidence of identity and age at a Metro sales location when applying for a Senior SmarTrip card or $8 reduced fare Metrobus weekly pass.

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Left: One of 400-some LADOT transit vehicles operated by the City of Los Angeles, not to be confused with buses of the larger L. A. County Regional Transportation Authority, aka L.A. Metro. Center: Famous Sign on one of the Hollywood Hills, easily seen from near Metrorail’s Hollywood & Highland station, pictured at right.

Los Angeles fares to rise by 25¢; free transfer coming back Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, aka Metro, on Sept. 1, will increase its adult fare by 25¢, to $1.75, from $1.50 presently. Adult day pass will rise to $7, from $5. Weekly pass to $25, from $20. Free transfers will be reintroduced, but only to TAP card users. This reusable transit card can be loaded with cash fares or passes. Transfer will be valid only within two hours of fare payment. At present, riders pay full fare for each ride. About 50% of Metro riders now transfer. Metro stopped issuing paper tickets in 2012. Metro hiked fares four times since its birth in 1993. Last time was 2010, when adult fare went to $1.50, from $1.25. Senior/disabled and student fares haven’t changed since 2007. A half-cent sales tax increase okayed by voters in 2008 froze senior/disabled/student fares for five years.

L.A. 35¢ senior fare will remain USA’s lowest Metro off-peak senior (age 62 and above) fare probably is the USA’s lowest. When it introduces higher fares Sept. 1, the senior fare will continue providing “a discount bigger than required by federal law,” promises L.A. Metro management. Senior regular peak-time fare is scheduled to increase by 20¢, to 75¢ per ride, from today’s 55¢. Off-peak fare will rise 10¢, to 35¢ per ride, from today’s 25¢. Senior day pass is slated to increase by 70¢ to $2.50, from $1.80 now. Senior 30-day pass will be $20. It’s now $14. Senior Metro EZ Pass will be $42, from $35 now. This costs a regular adult $84 now and will rise to $110 on Sept. 1. The EZ pass is a monthly pass good for local travel on 24 different public transit carriers throughout the Los Angeles region. NOTE: , the regional passenger railroad system, doesn’t accept an EZ pass.

Most L.A. area transit riders use plastic TAP farecard Most Metro riders use a TAP card. Riders usually tap it against a card reader to register fare payment. L.A. Metro says TAP is an abbreviation for “.” Actually, it isn’t a pass. It’s a plastic “smart” card that contains fare value. A daily, weekly or monthly pass can be electronically placed on it, after which it does actually become a pass. On Metro buses, riders can pay with cash (exact change) for a single ride or use a TAP card, which costs $2 if bought aboard a bus. On Metro Rail lines and Metro Orange rapid transit bus, fare is with a TAP card only; which can be purchased at any Metro Rail station convenient vending machine for $1. NOTE: A regular TAP card charges a full adult fare. To get a reduced fare, a senior needs to use a Senior TAP Card. See item on next page.

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Beside Metro, many other transit systems use TAP farecard In addition to Los Angeles Metro, two dozen other transit systems in the L.A. area accept fare payment via a TAP card, including: Antelope Valley Transit, Culver City Bus, , Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, Los Angeles DOT, , , Norwalk Transit, Santa Clarita Transit and .

Senior can mail-in application for L.A. low-fare card Anyone age 62 or older can apply for a photo ID Senior TAP Card, to which can be added a cheap fare monthly unlimited rides pass, day or weekly pass, single ride fare, etc. Application forms are at any Metro Customer Center, or on the Internet for applying by mail. Or by writing to: TAP Service Center, P.O. Box 811310, Los Angeles CA, 90081. Senior needs to return the filled-out form and include a suitable 2” x 2” or 1” x 1¼” passport-quality photo, plus copy of an acceptable government-issued photo ID. Allow at least 20 days for delivery.

Photo credits: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Clipper farecard. San Francisco Muni subway-surface tram and vintage streetcar. Senior .

Senior Clipper Card best way to pay in S.F. Bay area When in the , Grampa always uses his Senior Clipper Card to pay transit fares on Muni and nearly a dozen other transit systems. Besides Muni buses and rail rides, a Senior Clipper Card also allows half-fare – sometimes up to 66%-off – rides on the BART railways system, railroad, Muni bus and rail, and local and express buses of AC Transit, , SamTrans, and Santa Clara (San Jose, etc.) VTA. Golden Gate Ferry boats, too. Seniors can put a $23 Muni unlimited-ride monthly pass on this card. Anyone age 65 or over can apply for one. An easy-to-fill-out form is available on the web. You include proof of age and mail or fax these to an address listed. There is no charge.

San Francisco seniors to pay maybe nothing? Discussed seriously recently are free Muni rides for riders age 65 and older, costing Muni maybe up to $4-million a year. Gamblers give 5 to 1 odds against it happening. Single-ride adult fare on a Muni bus, light rail or historic streetcar line now is $2. It’s $6 on antique cable cars. Seniors currently pay 75¢ for a Muni bus, light rail or streetcar ride. Seniors pay $6 for a cable car ride from 7 am to 9 pm and $3 from 9 pm to 7 am. Tourist-popular historic streetcars, now $2 adult and 75¢ for seniors might triple to $6, fear some S.F. residents. Adult unlimited-rides monthly pass is $66. If it includes BART within San Francisco, price is $76. Senior unlimited monthly is $23, not including BART.

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Photos credit: SamTrans; Muni; AC Transit.

SamTrans hybrid power bus. Muni vintage cable car. AC Transit zero-emissions bus.

Muni is S.F. municipal transit system's nickname San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, aka Muni, oversees San Francisco Municipal Railway Co., aka Muni, plus local taxicabs, parking operations, traffic control, and even some bicycling and pedestrian programs. Muni was founded in 1912.

Muni ‘Visitor Passport’ no bargain for senior visitor Muni has what it calls a “Visitor Passport” good for one day unlimited rides for $15 or seven days for $29. Price is the same regardless of rider’s age. For a visiting senior, it's no big bargain, unless you want to ride up and down hills on cable cars all day. They charge $6 a ride. It’s not valid on BART, Caltrain, SamTrans, AC Transit, Golden Gate or any other non-Muni area transit system. You can't use it to ride to/from San Francisco or any of the area's three principal airports.

SamTrans reduces day pass price to $5 adult, $2.50 senior If you haven't been in the San Francisco area since last year, please note that as of Jan. 1, 2014, the suburban SamTrans bus system reduced its day pass price from 3 times its local bus cash fare to 2½ times its local bus cash fare. This discount will continue until at least June 30, 2015. One-way SamTrans local cash fare now is $2. Express bus routes 292 and 397 are $2 going into San Francisco and $4 coming out of San Francisco. Seniors age 65 and over pay $1 for a local bus ride or express ride into San Francisco but $2 coming out of San Francisco. Day pass now is $5 adult and $2.50 senior. This pass is good only on local SamTrans buses, not express buses. SamTrans KX Express bus one-way cash fare is $5, period. Day passes are purchased aboard the bus, at the farebox. Before paying, rider tells the bus driver she or he wants a day pass. Payment is cash only. Clipper cards do not carry a day pass. The farebox issues a mag-stripe day pass good to “swipe” for future SamTrans bus rides that day. For seniors in the area for a lengthy stay a discount monthly pass for $25 is a good deal. This allows unlimited rides on any local or express SamTrans bus at any time. Bus drivers sometimes ask for proof of age. This can include a diver license or suitable substitute photo-ID, Senior Clipper Card or Medicare card. If asked to show it, feel flattered.

SamTrans still sells metal fare tokens Despite the popularity of Senior Clipper Cards, dozens of SamTrans sales outlets sell fare tokens, including one at San Francisco International Airport. They are good only on local buses, and can't be used to buy a day pass. A package of 10 adult tokens costs $16. That's a 20% discount off the cash fare.

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Golden Gate Ferry fares up 50¢ for adult, 25¢ for senior Golden Gate Ferry fares increase by 5% on July 1, 2014. Seniors will continue to get a 50% discount. New fares are: To/from Larkspur: adult cash fare $10, paid with Clipper card $6.50; senior cash fare $5, paid with Senior Clipper card $5. To/from Sausalito: adult cash fare $10.75, paid with Clipper card $5.50; senior cash fare $5.25. Up to 2 kids age 5 and under ride free with fare-paying adult. NOTE: Senior Clipper card user always pays the posted senior reduced fare, not the posted regular Clipper card fare.

Golden Gate bus fares rise by 5% on July 1. Golden Gate Transit adult bus fare on July 1 will rise by 25¢c to 50¢c per ride, depending on distance traveled. If paid for with a Clipper farecard, each ride will cost 20¢c to 40¢c more. Senior fares will be 25¢ more for most trips, whether paid by cash or Senior Clipper card. These fare changes affect mainly long-distance rides in and between San Francisco, Marin County and Sonoma County stops. Marin County local cash fares remain same as before. Regional ADA paratransit will cost 25c to $1 more per ride, depending on distance. They can range from $8.25 to $19.50 per ride.

NJ Transit solves riddle of proper ID for reduced fare While other transit agencies struggle to define an acceptable ID for a reduced or free fare, New Jersey Transit has gone ahead and solved the problem. On its buses and trains, “allowable IDs for senior citizens 62 and older now include any ID or document printed with your date of birth and issued by a government, social service, or mass transportation agency,” says NJT. For seniors age 65 and above, its buses and trains accept any of these: Medicare card; driver's license; state-Issued non-driver's ID; passport; birth certificate; New York MTA reduced fare card; Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s PATH senior fare card; Delaware River Port Authority PATCO photo-ID Senior Fare Card; Pennsylvania Lottery Senior Citizen Free Transit ID, or a county or military ID.

If you want an ID farecard, NJ Transit will issue one For seniors who feel they need one, NJ Transit also issues its own ID farecard. “And you don't need to be a New Jersey resident to be eligible,” it says. Seniors can fill out an application for a NJT Reduced Fare ID/Card at most local banks, savings and loan associations, or county Offices on Aging. Or by mail. NJ Transit, the nation's largest statewide public transportation system, provides more than 895,000 weekday trips on 262 bus routes, three light rail lines, and 12 commuter rail lines, plus Access Link paratransit service. It is the USA’s third largest transit system, with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, notably in New York City and Philadelphia.

Jersey City-NYC rail line plans another fare increase Port Authority Trans Hudson Corp., aka PATH, a high speed railway line linking northern New Jersey communities and New York City, plans to raise adult fare in October to $2.75, from $2.50 now. Senior SmartLink card fare now is $1 and will remain $1. PATH isn’t part of the NJ Transit system. It is run by Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Adult fare increased by 50¢ in October 2012 to $2.25, and by 25¢ in October 2013 to today’s $2.50. PATH has 7 stations in New Jersey and 6 in New York. Its newest is at the World Trade Center in Manhattan. PATH sometimes is called Manhattan’s “best kept secret” subway line

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Boston area’s Charlie Card, left, most prominent of all USA transit “smart” farecards, gets its name from a popular song about someone cursed to “ride forever on a subway train” because he lacks enough money to exit the “pay as you leave” system. Los Angeles area’s TAP card, center, despite its name, need not be tapped to pay a fare. Chicago area’s Ventra card is “the newest kid on the block.” It is part of a new open fare payment arrangement introduced by the CTA and suburban PACE buses last summer.

Bean Town subways resume weekend late night service If you haven't been to Boston lately, you probably don't know its subways are running long into nighttime on weekends again. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick himself announced their restart. More than 18,000 riders re-initiated the late night service. Old timers recall that the subways ran late into the wee hours until April 1981. On Fridays and Saturdays, subway trains and 15 popular bus routes now run 90 minutes longer. “Late night T service is the result of listening to our citizens and trying to respond to their needs,” declared the governor. “World class cities offer late night public transit... Boston is a world class city.” MBTA Red, Orange, Blue and Green line final trips depart downtown stations 2:30-am Fri-Sat. “nights” (actually Sat.-Sun. mornings) and 1-am Sun.-Thurs. "nights” (actually Mon. - Fri. mornings). Mostly, trains run about 15 to 20 minutes apart. But nite owls are advised to check their schedules before heading to a station or bus stop. No, MBTA doesn't charge a premium late night fare.

Boston area’s ‘the T’ raising fares 5% this summer Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will increase bus, rail and ferry fares an average 5% on July 1. This is modest when compared to a hefty 23% hike two years ago. Seniors were especially hard hit in July 2012 when their bus fare shot up by 35¢, or 87%, and their subway fare by 40¢, or 66%. Fare for The Ride paratransit leaped 150%, to $3 an ADA ride, from $2 earlier. It climbed 300% to $5 for premium trips. Much to the relief of riders who have a disability, this year The Ride fare will remain $3 for an ADA ride and $5 for premium trips. Single ride senior fares, effective July 1 are: Local bus 80¢. Rapid Transit $1.05, including subway-elevated, streetcar/trolley and Rapid limited-stop bus lines, $1.05. Commuter railroad and ferryboats will remain half-fare. Seniors will continue to get a reduced fare to/from Boston Logan International Airport. Senior monthly unlimited-ride bus/subway pass, now $28, will be $29. There are no MBTA senior express bus, commuter railroad or boat passes. Single ride reduced fares suffice.

Folks ride ‘the T’ in Boston, Ft. Worth and Pittsburgh Bostonians refer to the MBTA system as “the T.” Fort Worth (Texas) Transportation Authority also calls itself “the T.” Port Authority Transit in Pittsburgh, Pa. calls its South Side light rail and downtown subway lines “the T,” and its new North Side light rail line “T-plus.”

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CharlieCard users pay less, don’t fumble for change MBTA riders pay transit fares mostly via a plastic reusable CharlieCard reusable farecard. Consequently, they pay less than visitors who fumble for coins or/and unwrinkled currency. Travelers in Boston for a short stay usually pay cash or buy a CharlieTicket, a mag-stripe paper ticket that contains stored fare value. Both are lousy alternatives for most riders. For example, after July 1 local bus fare for a cash payer or CharlieTicket user is $2.10. But it’s merely $1.60 for a Charlie Card user. Rapid transit, including subway-elevated, streetcar/trolley and Rapid bus lines, will be $2.65 for cash or ticket user vs. $2.10 for a CharlieCard user. The card’s superior value really shows up when riding an Outer Express bus. On these, cash or ticket user pays $5.25, while a card user pays only $6.80. That’s a $1.65 CharlieCard advantage.

Attention seniors !!! Don’t buy a Charlie Card !!! For anyone planning to spend more than a few days in the Boston area, it pays to get a CharlieCard. Anyone, that is, except visitors age 65 or older. Instead, savvy seniors buy a reduced-fare Senior CharlieCard. They purchase this at the CharlieCard store in Boston's MBTA Downtown Crossing subway station concourse Mon.-Fri. 8 am to 5:30 pm. This plastic “smart” card allows half fare or better for virtually all MBTA services, including MBTA regional railroads and ferryboats. It also gets a reduced fare to/from Boston Logan International Airport.

St. Louis MetroLink train fares increase July 1 MetroLink's operator, Bi-State Development Agency, aka Metro, said in late May the rail system fares will rise as of July 1. Adult base fare will be $2.50. It's now $2.25. Senior will pay $1.25. Senior now pays $1.10. Weekly pass will rise to $27. It's now $25. NOTE: MetroBus and Metro Call-a-Ride won’t be affected. Metrobus adult fare stays $2, senior $1, with a 2-hour pass/transfer remaining regular adult $3, senior $1.50. All-day pass will stay $7.50 and $3.75. Call-a-Ride fare will remain $4 per ride. Small fare hikes every two years are in Metro’s long range transit plan. NOTE: Seniors age 65 or older get a reduced fare on MetroRail and MetroBus only by presentation at the farebox a photo-ID reduced fare pass issued by Metro, Saint Clair County Transit District, or Madison County Transit. To get this pass, the senior must apply in person and have his/her photo taken at the MetroRide Store at 701 Convention Plaza in downtown St. Louis. It usually is open 8:30 am to 5 pm. Permit is issued there and then. There is no charge.

Transit agencies disagree on proper ID for a reduced fare Some years ago, Grampa and Kimberly, his granddaughter, boarded a Tampa bus. “What’s the fare for one senior and one student?” Grampa asked. “Where’s your senior ID card?” snapped the driver. Then, squinting at grade-schooler Kimberly, he said, “And where’s your student ID?” They had none. Grampa paid two full adult fares. Since then, he has acquired a colorful photo-ID card from HART*, the Tampa region’s public transit system. To get a reduced fare, some transit systems require a photo-ID issued by that system. Some insist you apply for it in-person. Others let you mail-in an application, along with an acceptable photo and proof of age. Many issue non-photo IDs. Latest trend is a non-ID “smart” farecard, such as Washington DC’s Senior SmarTrip card. Other “smart” cards, however, contain the senior’s photo, such as San Diego’s reduced fare . Many bus and subway operators accept a Medicare card or/and ID cards issued by other transit systems. Many don’t. * Hillsborough Area Regional Transit.

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Photo credit: Scott Ehardt, Wikipedia; Federal Transit Administration.

MARTA train at ’s North Ave. station. MetroBus passing famous St. Louis Arch.

Atlanta buses take cash but day pass requires In Atlanta and vicinity, local bus adult fare is $2.50 per ride, paid either by cash or via a “smart” farecard, known as a Breeze card. Bus fareboxes take coins and currency, but don’t make change. Rail base fare also is $2.50 but payable only with a Breeze card. Day pass is $9, 2-day pass $14, 3-day $16, 4-day $19 and 7-day $23.75. These and other passes are available only on a Breeze card, which costs $1. Thus, a traveler in town briefly pays $10 for a day pass, $15 for a 2-day pass, $20 for a 4-day pass. This $1 card fee also means a $2.50 single ride actually can cost $3.50. Breeze cards are sold at all rail station Breeze card vending machines. These accept payment via major credit or debit card or cash.

MARTA is Atlanta area’s main transit provider MARTA is the dominant public transit provider in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Other Atlanta-area transit systems using the Breeze card include: Cobb County Transit, GRTA Xpress, and Gwinnett County Transit. Buckhead Uptown Connection is a free connecting shuttle

Reduced-fare Breeze Card must be gotten in-person While seniors pay half-fare in many USA cities, in Atlanta they pay only $1 for a ride costing an ordinary adult $2.50. Many in Atlanta use a Reduced Fare Breeze Card. To get one, the senior must apply in-person between 9 am to noon or 2 pm to 4 pm Mon.-Fri. at MARTA’s HQ building across from Lindbergh Center station, or at MARTA Five Points station in downtown Atlanta.

MARTA web page is handy Atlanta trip planning tool MARTA has a web page for visitors that’s a handy guide to which bus and rail lines go to/from numerous popular Atlanta destinations and attractions. Clicking on each’s name takes you to its web site. Included are more than 100 downtown, midtown, airport and Buckhead hotels and motels. Directions are shown to/from transportation hubs such as airports, train stations, etc. Access it at: http://www.itsmarta.com/visiting-atlanta.aspx

Atlanta’s top 10 tourist attractions reachable via transit MARTA's website lists Atlanta's top ten tourist attractions. Clicking on the attraction’s name tells how to reach it via public transportation. To wit: (1) Zoo & Cyclorama, (2) Atlantic Station shopping area, (3) Botanical Gardens, (4) History Center, (5) Woodruff Arts Center, (6) CNN Tour & Centennial Olympic Park, (7) Turner Field, (8) Piedmont Park & Virginia Highlands, (9) Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site, (10) Georgia Aquarium & World of Coke.

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Honolulu bus transfer coupon will allow second transfer On July 1, the Honolulu area's transit system, aka TheBus, will begin providing a paper transfer that contains a detachable coupon. Transfers will be issued at no extra charge to cash- paying riders upon request as they board. When the rider boards a connecting bus, its driver will collect the coupon. If the rider leaves this bus and boards another, the driver of that bus will collect the remaining portion of the transfer. Neither transfer nor coupon will be valid for return trips or round trips. They will be valid only until time shown at the top of the transfer.

Seniors show TheBus driver Medicare Card to pay $1 fare One-way senior bus fare on TheBus for anyone age 65 or above is $1. To pay this fare, the senior must show the driver TheBus Senior Card. Or, she/he can show the driver his/her valid Medicare card. Tourists from the Mainland often show the latter. If the driver asks for additional proof of age, feel flattered. TheBus Senior Card costs $10 at TheBus Pass Office. Applicant must provide proof of age, e.g. state issued photo-ID card, driver's license, passport, etc. TheBus Senior Card expires in four years. Regular adult fare is $2.50 per ride.

$15 buys monthly TheBus local and express pass For someone visiting the Honolulu area for more than a couple of days, a monthly pass sticker can be a really good deal. It costs $5 at TheBus Pass Office or any Honolulu County government branch office. These are located at: Ala Moana Center, Uptown Pearlridge Shopping Center, Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza, Windward City Shopping Center, 1000 Fort Street in downtown Honolulu, 1000 Uluohia Street in Kapolei, Kapalama City Square, Waianae Neighborhood Community Center, and in Wahiawa at 330 North Cane Street.. This $5 sticker is affixed to TheBus Senior Card. Card plus sticker is $15 total. It provides unlimited rides on all regular fixed-route and express buses for the calendar month listed.

On the web: Handy transit guide to Waikiki attractions TheBus publishes a handy Waikiki Guide. This pocket-size folder lists numerous tourist- favorite destinations and bus routes that go to them. An attractive map of Waikiki illustrates these bus roués. Two “How to Ride” pages contain plenty of useful info in six languages. A copy is available on the web at: http://www.thebus.org/pop/Visitor_WaikikiGuide.pdf TheBus system is operated by Oahu Transit Services Inc. which runs 519 fixed-route buses along 101 routes. Of these, 34 are express. Three are bus rapid transit. Oahu Transit Services also has 162 paratransit vans known as TheHandiVan fleet. Total ridership: about 233,000 weekdays, 74,850,000 annually. Photo credits: Smart Destinations Inc.; MECU, Wikipedia; Musashi1600, Wikipedia.

L to R: Pineapple Express train at Dole Plantation on the island of Oahu is reached on TheBus route 56 bus (the “Wahiawa-Haleiwa” route) from Honolulu's Ala Moana Center. Bus senior fare $1

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Illustrations and photo credit: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

SEPTA has been using the “I- SEPTA- PHILLY” logo at left to promote its 50th anniversary year, the year it had planned to stop selling metal fare tokens such as the one above. Instead, tokens, paper transfers and tickets will be discontinued next year, replaced by electronic payment media, including “smart” tap-to-pay farecards resembling somewhat the prototypes pictured at right. For more, see next page.

Philadelphia area cash fare now is $2.25; transfer still $1 If you haven’t been in Philadelphia since early spring of last year, please be advised that its principal public transit system, SEPTA*, in July 2013 raised adult cash base fare for a bus, trolley or subway-el ride to $2.25, a 25¢ increase. A paper transfer remains $1. Re-transfers cost an additional $1 each. Cash Fare for the Norristown high-speed railway line which old-timers refer to as “the bullet train” is $2.75. Express bus routes 123, 124, 125 & 150 single-ride cash fare is $3.75. Any senior can ride free of charge who shows the proper ID. See item below. SEPTA Regional Railroad fares vary by zone. Senior citizen RR fare is $1 for a ride within the state of Pennsylvania. A strip of one-ride tickets is $8.50. * SEPTA, aka Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, raised fares in 2007, 2010 and 2013 and plans to do so again in 2016, switching in 2015 to new payment technology, aka NPT, when base cash fare is expected to rise by another 25¢.

Visiting seniors can get free rides ID card Anyone age 65 or older visiting Philadelphia for more than a day or two would be wise to request a Senior Citizen Lottery Funded Transit non-photo ID fare card from SEPTA or other Pennsylvania public transit agency. This non-photo-ID card is not restricted to state residents. A senior can use it to ride without paying a fare not only on Philadelphia area buses, trolleys and subway-el trains, but also on regular fixed-route public transit vehicles throughout the state, with few exceptions. It’s good, for example, on transit vehicles in: Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Easton, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Williamsport, York and other tourist attractive areas. Exceptions include SEPTA regional railroad trains. As noted above, these charge $1 cash per ride, or 85¢ per ride when using a senior ticket from an $8.50 strip of ten. Actually, these aren’t “free” rides. They are paid-for from proceeds of the Pennsylvania Lottery. SEPTA, for instance, gets about $1 for each subsidized senior ride. On an average day, 107,000 seniors state-wide take advantage of this “free” rides program.

Yes, Philly riders still use fare tokens SEPTA will stop selling tokens next year, but keep accepting them for fare payment for another year or two. At vending machines, two tokens currently cost $3.60. Subway fare booths and terminal windows sell a ten-pack for $18. Thus, token users pay only $1.80 per ride, 45¢ less per ride than those who pay with cash. A paper transfer is $1, good for one ride.

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SEPTA switching to ‘smart’ farecard next year SEPTA will switch in 2015 from fare payment via metal tokens and paper passes and transfers to payment via new electronic “smart” farecards, Quik Trip fare tickets, etc. When this occurs, the latter will pay the same fare as token users now pay. This currently is $1.80. At that time, riders also will be able to pay via their own American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa cards, or even via a properly apped hand-held “smart” phone. Paper transfers won’t exist. Therefore, cash payers will pay full fare for each ride. “Smart” farecard users, however, will pay $1 for a transfer placed electronically onto the card.

Philly’s leap into 21st Century fare payment postponed Originally, SEPTA expected to initiate its new payment technology, aka NPT, on July 1, 2014. Now, it says this will occur “upon completion of installation of equipment and infrastructure” in 2015. SEPTA will provide at least 60 days notice of any fare changes. April’s issue of The Travelin’ Grampa contained a 12-page report on SEPTA’s NPT. This noted that a similar “smart” card system’s introduction last year by the Chicago Transit Authority ran into so many problems SEPTA decided, in the words of one of its executives, “We don’t want to go through that here. We would rather take our time and make sure it is done right.”

Philly CCT paratransit fare to remain $4 SEPTA CCT paratransit, aka CCT Connect, aka Customized Community Transportation, fare is $4. A proposed increase to $4.50 was cancelled. “This fare will stay $4 until at least 2016, which is when rates for all SEPTA services will be evaluated for possible adjustments,” said a SEPTA spokesperson.

This is Part 1 of a two-part special report THIS PAGE concludes Part 1 of a two-part special report on senior fares in the USA’s top tourist-attractive destinations Grampa has visited Part 2 will appear in the July 2014 issue. Following are destinations featured in this issue: Atlanta GA p.13, Boston MA p.11, Cape May NJ p.1, Chicago IL p.3, Honolulu HI p.14, Los Angeles CA p.7, Marin County CA p.10, New Jersey Transit p.10, New Orleans LA p.4, Philadelphia PA p.15. Saint Louis MO p.12, San Francisco CA p.8, San Mateo County CA, p.9, Washington DC p.5. In the July 2014 issue will be featured: Arlington TX, Atlantic City NJ, Austin TX, Baltimore MD, Connecticut, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Fort Worth TX, Houston TX, Miami FL, New Orleans LA, New York City, Orange County CA., Orlando FL, Phoenix AZ, Pittsburgh PA, St. Petersburg FL, San Antonio TX, San Diego CA, Seattle WA, Tampa FL.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ © 2014, all rights reserved. The Travelin’ Grampa is published monthly by John A. Moore Sr., Freelance Journalist, P. O Box 636, Clifton Heights PA 19018-0636. Price for an annual (12 issues) subscription by e-mail: $75. Special 66½ discount to U. S. residents age 62 and over.

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