Dundee must think again
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IN a reserved decision issued last Friday the Scottish Traffic Commissioners approved fares increases for Dundee Corporation Transport which would raise the 6d. fare to 7d. and the 10d. fare to is., but asked the department to have another look at the proposed increase from 8d. to 9d. The increases have been requested to meet an estimated deficit of £69,315 in a full year.
The proposed increase from 8d. to 9d. would affect the five-six-stage part of the fares structure (24 to 3 miles). Doubt about the reasonableness of this part of the application was expressed by the Commissioners when they deferred their decision after a public hearing earlier in the week.
Convener of the transport committee, Bailie Harry Reilly, stated that it was difficult to assess what the drop in revenue would be as a result of the Commissioners' decision, but he thought it would amount to roughly 50 per cent of the anticipated increased revenue. He had arranged for an emergency meeting to formulate new proposals for submission to the Commissioners.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, Mr. A. B. Birnie, chairman of the Traffic Commissioners, said it was clear that the transport department needed more revenue.
What concerned him was the marked differentiation in favour of long-distance passengers and the sharp increase in fares for the five-six-stage passengers. Their fare had gone up from 7d. to 8d. and it was now proposed to raise it to 9d., which seemed rather, drastic.
Mr. W. L. Russell, transport engineer and manager, stated that if the 4d. minimum fare giving a ride of about one mile went up, people would walk. But a passenger would weigh up whether or not to walk two miles if-the five-six-stage fare were increased.