Minutes 03/14/1961 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 14th. 1961 sting, practices which are too~cgptly~ As a ponseqpence, the Company is able to confirm the tentative compromise ~a~e increase'offer made by us on March'6, but without the limitations to a six months' trial period. The proposed fare system would be two zones, with the zone point located at the Belt Line Railroad. The cash fare would be 20~ for any one zone ride or portion thereof. Any person continuing his ride beyond~the %one point'woul~ . Pay.an~ ~dd~t~on~ fa~e... . . ~ 6f 5¢ or'a ~otal of 25¢ fare, Transfer privileges would be ava{l~hle, b~t a transfer passenger continuing his rid~ b~yond the z6ne point would pay the additional DF fare The school fare of Nv would be city-wide. 121~ - ~_ While tke financial results of ~uch a fare are undetermined, we are certain that the ne~ earnings to the Compcny will be something less than the universal ~5~ adult and 1~½9 sckool fare, which we had formally eequested, and well within yhe allowable limits of the City~Code. We urge the City Council to approve this change in fare a~ your meeting on March 14,1 to. becom~ effective March 19, in order that we may offset the Present 0pershing ~osses and operate at a pro£it~ We can not go forward and pr6gress with Portsmouth without a profit and harmo?ions working arrangements wi~h the COuncil. We r~alize that some members of the Council have reservations ~s to the adequacy of the'p~ovis~ons in the City Code to meet present day bus operating conditions. We have'found that rate making for'public utilities and bus companies is a complicated matter involving an understanding of specialized accounting practices, a back- ground knowledg~ of legal decisions of rate making bodies and con/missions, and a practical understanding of current industry practices. Onlyan impartial practicing transportation expert is qualified to properly evaluate our present situation. If 'the City Council should desire to go into this matter, the Company woul~d share with the City the cost o~ hiring such an expert, and after he had submitted his report, we would agree to sit down with the Council and go fully into the matter. It is our desire to eontinu~ to serve Portsmouth and we believe we have the ability and the resources ~o do so better than anyone you may get; but we'must operate at a profTt. We agree with the City that an orderly replacement of the buses is highly desirable, °and we would schedule such a progrsm once we get on a reasonably profitable basis and. Have confidence mn being able to continue on such~a basis. ~e also agreel that the public must be able to rely on strict maintenance of schedules and service, and we agree that this will I be done. Further, we will be~in to m~ke riding checks ~n all o~ our rodtes, including the buses operating to an~ from the Navy Yard for Navy Yard employees, and will adjust the service where it is justified. Also the Company will sponsor and meet with the Downtown and Mid City ~merchants, and the City, with the view of working out mu - tually satisfactory arrangements to xnaugurate, on a 60 ~o 90 day trial basis, an off-peak shoppers' bus, at a reduced fare, between Downtown Portsmouth and the Mid City Shopping Center to encourage shopping in Portsmouth. We will also earnestly endeavor to improve our public relations by work{n~ closer with our~riders, seeking their suggestions and complaints, and making j~stifiable adjustments in service. We will better inform the public on improvements and long'range plans thr6ugh th~ press, radio and by meeting with civic groups. We will try to meet the needs of the club bus riders. The transit employees and the Company have made concessions in order to reach a se~ - tlement of this long, drawn~-out controversy, and we now h6pe that the City Council will also concede a point and approve the proposed fare increase. (Signed Warren R Pollard, President.)" Notion of Mr. Weiseman to refer to the next conference of the Council on transit problems, was adopted, withont dissenting vo~e. On motion'adjourned. City Clerk Approved - President.