Commuters will start paying more this week to board buses and trains operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is raising fares Monday morning for the first time in four years.
At 12:01 a.m. Monday, one-way Metro bus and rail fares will increase from $1.50 to $1.75, and monthly passes will increase from $75 to $100. Fares for senior and disabled passengers will go up from $0.55 to $0.75. One-way fares for students in grades K-12 will remain at $1.
The other major change starting Monday — two hours of free transfers — may ease the pain of higher fares for some riders, Metro says. For the last decade, passengers have been required to pay a new fare each time they board a bus or train. Metro says that has discouraged efficient use of the system because riders tend to avoid transfers, placing added strain on some lines and limiting use of others.
The fare increase comes in the midst of the biggest rail boom in the history of Los Angeles. By the end of this year, five new lines will be under construction, spanning downtown Los Angeles, mid-Wilshire, Azusa, South L.A. and Santa Monica. Once operational, the routes will add significantly to the agency’s operating budget.
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