Carl Posti is the CEO of ATAC, which serves as the Mobility Agency in the Municipality of Rome. These are the folks that operate the bus, tram, and metro service in Rome. And if Carl and his company get their wish, ticket prices for the transportation systems in Rome will jump by 50% . Yes, an incredible 50 cents jump from 1€ to 1.50€ for the standard BIT (biglietto integrato a tempo) ticket.
Mr. Posti states that the new rates would increase ATAC’s revenues by more than 35 million euro. The resolution is currently before the government board and Posti predicts that this resolution will be approved and that these price changes will be take place in June … just in time for your summer vacation. Mr. Posti further stated that his company would definitely have new passes and tickets in place for a June price adjustment. Of course, this announcement was quickly met with opposition. Italy is facing severe financial challenges and raising the transportation rates for the general populace by 50% has not been well received. ATAC has been racked by numerous complaints of mismanagement, corruption, favoritism in hiring, and poor financial practices.
ATAC counters by saying that service WILL improve and that workers will do more. For example, they announced that if the resolution was approved workers in the administration department of ATAC will work 37 hours a week instead of the current 36 hour work week. 35 million euro for an extra hour of work a week – wonder what that works out to per hour?
Well, there are 1,200 administrative employees, multiplied by say, 48 weeks (and that’s being generous considering the number of holidays)… that comes to an additional 57,600 hours a year. So that works out to about $607 per hour. I doubt any admin folks at ATAC are making that rate (Is Mr. Posti considered an admin employee?). As you would expect in Italy, the company is working with multiple unions to gain support for the required changes. No comments yet on any sacrifices by those other union members to warrant this price increase. Certainly getting union concessions will be a challenge.
There are as of yet no published prices for the other ATAC tickets. The daily ticket is 4€, a three-day ticket is 11€, a 7-day pass is 16€, and a monthly ticket (mensile) is currently priced at 30€. It will be interesting to see where these prices are set with the proposed adjustment. Many Romans purchase an annual or the monthly pass so the BIT increase may not impact them as directly. It probably will impact YOU more. Yes, travellers purchase many BIT tickets every day. Walking could soon become a better option. Hotels in central Rome are undoubtedly proponents of this price increase. If approved, there will most likely be a ripple across the board, not just in these ticket prices but also in the Roma Pass and other discount passes. Will this lead to an increase in other “Rome connections”, like the Leonardo Express or the FR1 train to Trastevere from FCO?
One group that’s really NOT happy about this whole chain of events is the taxi unions. They’ve been trying to get a rate increase (especially the fixed-rates from the FCO and CIA airports) for more than three years. Despite their contribution to the mayor’s election campaign they’ve constantly been rebuffed. I would imagine if this gets passed they will REALLY be upset. I could easily see a taxi strike in June in response to this price increase.But wouldn’t that backfire and actually require people during the strike to ride the metro and buses? Ah, Roma!
I do believe the transportation service in Rome, even at the proposed 1.50€ for the BIT, is a great bargain. Compared to other European cities, Rome is certainly one of the least expensive. I’ve used the buses daily and often jump from bus to bus in my journeys. But the issue here is what do you get for your money – and how will this incremental income be used. ATAC, whose public image has been repeatedly battered, needs to get their house in order. I do believe the increase will get approved… Let’s hope ATAC steps up their game with improved services and better financial practices.
