Letter: Transfers between towns are free

I am writing to apologize for and correct the misinformation in my recent op-ed about bus fares in the Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty area ('Area transportation and housing needs are intertwined,” March 13).

I erroneously wrote that transfers between the towns cost money. This is not true. I spoke with Brad Newman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as Vicki from the Coralville Transit office.

If someone buys a bus pass, then all transfers are honored by both bus systems (Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit), and the rider can go to all three towns no problem. The only small issue is if a Coralville resident buys Coralville's 20 pass ticket, which would require the rider to pay a dollar to get back to Coralville from Iowa City, since Iowa City transit does not honor the 20 pass ticket (the transfer would be free however).

There are still many pressing issues about transportation which Johnson County needs to address, but the cost of transfers is not one of them.

Sarah Hunnicutt

Housing Coordinator, Domestic Violence Intervention Program