LITTLE ROCK — Renting a River Rail streetcar for a wedding, a birthday party or a private tour will cost $175 per hour under a new policy approved Tuesday along with a fare increase by the Central Arkansas Transit Authority's Board of Directors.
River Rail's basic fare will double from 50 cents to $1 per ride, starting in March, under the recommendation passed 8-0 by the board. The$29 million River Rail runs on 3.4 miles of track in the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock.
A standard fee for renting one of the $800,000-plus streetcars takes effect immediately, the board decided as part of the fare increase package.
CATA previously has rented streetcars for private events - birthday parties, conference groups and private charters - but charged only for its la-bor and operating costs, about $112 an hour, said Betty Wineland, CATA's executive director. The board had never set rental fees.
"We had not set an official rental rate for the streetcars and the demand is growing," Wineland said. "We get three to four calls phone calls a week from people who want to reserve a streetcar as far as a year ahead, in some cases."
The new rental policy will carry a one-hour minimum rental time and an additional $100 charge per trolley for rentals outside of regular operating hours. Reservations are required 48 hours in advance as is a $75 deposit or a $125 deposit if food and beverage will be brought on board.
Each of the five streetcars holds 80 adult passengers, 40 seated and 40 standing.
The fare increase places CATA in line with what several other cities with streetcars charge and isn't expected to add much to River Rail's $5,216 in average monthly fare andpass revenue, Wineland said. The $2 all-day ride pass won't change.
"Our ridership consists mostly of visitors to the two cities," Wineland said. "For that reason, it's difficult to see what our revenue increase would be with this."
River Rail has carried an average of 12,035 passengers per month through the first nine months of this year.
"When we first set [fare] rates, we said we would review them later," for a possible increase, said Joe Smith, a member of the board's trolley committee. The rates were set in 2004 when the River Rail opened. "We probably went a year longer than we should have for an increase."
The fare increase won't change costs for children 11 and under. Children ages 4 and younger will keep riding for free and ages 5 through 11 will keep paying 50 cents. Riders age 65 and older and peoplewith disabilities will pay 50 cents under the new rate instead of 25 cents, still half the basic fare.
CATA will add a three-day ride pass for $5 and a 20-ridecard for $15.
Wineland, who recommended the fare increase, asked that the cost rise not take effect until March 3 because it will take a minimum of two months tochange fare prices on signs at trolley stops and in River Rail literature.
"And I'd hate to start any fare increase in December or January," she said.
Arkansas, Pages 11, 15 on 10/24/2007