For 19 years the Cache Valley Transit District has operated as a zero-fare bus system in order to achieve goals of maximizing the usage, improving air quality and alleviating traffic congestion. Doug Thompson, chairman of the CVTD Board of Directors, says some constituents have voiced the opinion that it is time to charge a fee.

Thompson says this came to a head when the CVTD board began asking for a sales tax increase to operate the system but ultimately withdrew the request. Thompson says the board wants to do what the people want them to do.

“The board, over the 19 years of the transit district’s existence, has felt like the zero fare was the best thing,” Thompson says. “But we want to make sure that is the case. We’d like to hear all voices.

“We’re holding a public hearing on October 28th at about 6:45 so we can hear people’s thoughts from both sides, or all sides, so we can get a better idea how Cache Valley people really feel.”

He says the public hearing will be held at Bridgerland Applied Technology College located at 1301 North 600 West in room 840. A regular meeting will be held at the same place beginning at 5:45 p.m. and the public is invited to attend either or both of the meetings.

Prior to the hearing the board will be reviewing the results of a telephone survey of registered voters in Cache Valley concerning various aspects of CVTD, including the zero fare.