RTD upped its current budget by $10.5 million, in part due to rising fuel costs, and took steps toward reducing next year's projected $35.6 million budget deficit through paid parking at park-n-Ride lots and a proposed fare increase.

The only item that passed without controversy at Tuesday's board meeting was the current- year budget increase, containing $5.9 million more for diesel fuel.

Most of the remaining increase is more funding for FasTracks projects, due to opportunities to do some work in 2008 that had been scheduled for later years.

But even before a proposed 14 percent fare increase for January goes to public hearings next month, board members debated over changing parts of the proposal that goes out for public comment.

One of the changes the board rejected would have trimmed $2 million from the $13.2 million RTD expects to gain in 2009 from the fare increases by exempting some changes to the Eco Pass annual fare program.

While the changes still could be made when the board votes on the package in October, most board members said the public deserves the chance to comment on the original proposal, which would cost Eco Pass holders more money.

Fares are proposed to increase 25 cents for local service, to $2, and 50 cents for express and regional service, to $3.50 and $4.50.

The board also rejected a proposal from Bruce Daly, who represents the mountain communities of south Jefferson County, to exempt the Pine Junction park-n- Ride on U.S. 285 along the Jefferson-Park County border from the pay-to-park program.

Starting in February, RTD will begin levying $4 a day charges at the 16 busiest park-n-Ride lots to commuters who do not live within the transportation district's boundaries. All but Pine Junction are on busy highway corridors such U.S. 36, Interstate 25, Interstate 70 and Santa Fe Drive.

Pine Junction park-n-Ride is heavily used by Park County residents who don't live in the district.

Out-of-district residents would be charged $2 a day at 24 other low-demand lots.

District residents can still park for free, unless they leave their cars more than 24 hours. Then they will be charged $2 a day.

District residents also will be able to reserve parking spots until 10 a.m. at the busiest park- n-Ride lots by paying a $40 monthly fee.

Most of the controversy Tuesday centered on the Eco Pass program, an annual deal with numerous metro employers and some neighborhoods in Boulder. RTD says it has lost money on the Eco Pass because of the deep discounts combined with the increased ridership that has come lately with rising gas prices.

But John Tayer, board member from Boulder, said the jury is still out because the agency doesn't yet have solid enough ridership and revenue figures from the program.

RTD parking charges

RTD's new pay-to-park program imposes daily parking fees to commuters who live outside boundaries of the district and smaller fees to district residents who leave vehicles for more than a day. It will be phased in starting in February.

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS:

$4 Nonresident daily parking in one of 16 high-demand lots.

$2 Nonresident daily parking in one of 24 low-demand lots.

$2 Daily fee for residents who park more than 24 hours at a time, starting with the second day.

$40 Monthly fee for residents to reserve a parking spot until 10 a.m. in one of the 16 high- demand lots. After 10 a.m., any unused spots will be available to the general public.

$450,000 New annual revenue RTD expects from the program.