Bus Riders Union loses court ruling

Superior Court Judge Thomas McKnew ruled Monday against a lawsuit brought by the Bus Riders Union over fare increases approved last year by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board.

The Bus Riders Union and the Natural Resources Defense Council had sued the MTA, alleging that the agency should have done an environmental analysis before raising fares because fare hikes usually result in fewer people taking mass transit and more people driving.

In a tentative ruling earlier this month, McKnew found that the MTA didn’t have to do the study because California law provides exceptions to transit agencies that use fares to pay for operating expenses.

-- Steve Hymon