News
Metro Board Authorizes Transit Fare Increase
Dianne Williams
Director of Communications
314-982-1440
The Metro Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting this morning authorized a fare increase to go into effect on July 1, 2012, the beginning of the new fiscal year. The Board decision to raise fares had been postponed for two years. Last month, Metro invited the public to four meetings to learn more about three fare increase options and share their opinions.
The option chosen will raise the prices of 2-hour, weekly, monthly, and semester passes. The cost of the 2-hour pass/transfer will increase from $2.75 to $3. The reduced 2-hour fare option, available to children, seniors, and passengers with disabilities, will increase from $1.35 to $1.50. Weekly passes go from $23.50 to $25; monthly passes will increase from $68 to $72 ($34 to $36 for reduced fare); and the college semester pass will increase from $145 to $150.
The base Metro fares will not change. MetroBus fare will remain at $2.00. The one-ride MetroLink fare will stay at $2.25 and the current $4.00 Metro Call‑A‑Ride fare will remain unchanged. Reduced base fares for eligible seniors, children, and customers with disabilities will also remain the same.
“The fare increase will generate nearly two million dollars in passenger revenue for Fiscal Year 2013, money that is essential to sustain current transit operations,” said John Nations, Metro President & CEO. “However, the impact on the individual customer remains small.”
Passenger revenue supports 22 percent of the cost to provide transit service. The balance of the service is funded by local sales taxes and other forms of grants and assistance.
Increases for fuel, vehicle parts, and medical benefit expenses continue to add to the cost of operating the Metro Transit system. Periodic fare increases were included as a key component of the region’s long range transit plan, Moving Transit Forward. That plan calls for raising fares by a small percentage approximately every two years to address the transit system’s growing capital and operating needs.