PALMA
GOOD news for those who travel regularly by bus in Palma.
Mobility department deputy Joaquín Rodríguez said yesterday that Palma's municipal transport company, EMT will maintain the current fare structure throughout the coming year, although absolute confirmation will only be made after a company board meeting due to take place within the next few days.
Hence, the standard fare of 1.10 euros for travelling any distance within the municipal boundaries will remain. Those who are fortunate enough to be eligible for a Palma citizen's card will be able to continue clicking against the special machine at the entry door of the buses which deducts only 46 cents for each journey. This facility is only available to those who are registered as living in Palma or in districts which have reciprocal local authority agreements with Palmasuch as Llucmajor.
Otherwise, anyone can buy a bus user's card at tobacconist shops throughout Palma which enables the traveller to use any of the bus routes in Palma for 80 cents. However, the No. 1 route which connects Palma's docks with the airport has a different fare structure for those travelling out of town to the airport.
This will be the fifth consecutive year there has been no price increase. Rodríguez said that as one of the priorities of the new Socialist government in the Islands is to prioritise and upgrade public transport, keeping bus fares at the same rate is one way of encouraging people to leave their cars at home.
Further good news from Cristina Cerdó, head of Palma's water company Emaya, and an Environment deputy confirmed yesterday that in principle, water rates won't be going up in 2008. The next Emaya board meeting will officially ratify the current rates.
On the down side, rubbish collection rates are due to rise by six percent.