Metro Increases Fares, Pass Prices For Buses, Trains

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Public transportation commuters will have to dig a little deeper, as higher fares on Metro buses and trains go into effect Monday.

Metro's base fare will increase 25 cents, from $1.50 to $1.75. Day passes will cost $2 more, increasing from $5 to $7. The weekly pass will increase to $25, up from $20, and the cost of a 30-day pass will jump to $100, up from $75.

The peak-hour fare for the disabled and people aged 62 and older will increase to 75 cents from 55 cents. Their off-peak fare will increase from 25 cents to 35 cents.

Also new on Monday, riders who use the re-loadable TAP cards to pay the fare will get two hours of free transfers to other Metro bus and rail lines to complete a one way trip.

Metro officials recommend riders use the $1 TAP cards instead of change in order to take advantage of the free transfers, but the transfers are not valid for making a round trip.

According to Metro, 26 percent of its transit riders still pay with cash, and about half of them make trips that require transfers. TAP cards are required to ride a Metro rail line.

Metro officials said the agency plans to sell TAP cards over the next month at 30 "high-volume" bus stops in locations where there are no nearby TAP vending machines.

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