Bus riders plead with Fargo leaders over proposed route changes, fare increases

FARGO — Over a dozen Fargo residents lined up to speak at City Hall about how the proposed changes to the city’s bus system would impact them.

Martha Anderson grew tearful when addressing city leaders during the Fargo City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

“I don’t want to lose my job,” Anderson said.

For more than a decade she’s worked on 52nd Avenue South in Fargo; she relies on the bus service to get there and, with the proposed changes, expressed concern that she won’t be able to travel to work anymore.

City Commissioners unanimously approved rate increases across the board during Tuesday's meeting and, at the next meeting in two weeks, plan to vote on a host of service route changes.

The changes are necessary, according to Transit Director Julie Bommelman, because Matbus is