Metro Fares to Increase in 2010

Attention Metro bus riders: be prepared to carry extra change when boarding a bus.

Metro approved a 5-cent fare hike during a budget meeting Thursday, Metro Spokeswoman Raquel Roberts said. Park and Ride customers could expect to pay up to 20 cents more, depending on the zone.

The fare increases are set to take effect in January,

Metro increased its budget by 23 percent from last year to bring it to $1.26 billion budget, Roberts said.

"Dallas just raised fares to $1.75," Roberts said. "Metro Transit Authority is still one of the cheapest transit agency in the country, and they kept their operating budget flat."

Metro also has experienced lower sales tax revenues in the past six months, she said.

And although its operating budget also remains unchanged from the '08-'09 fiscal year, the debt portion of its budget increased-- partially because of new debt incurred by the construction of new light rail lines expected to run southeast, east and north from downtown Houston, Roberts said.

Metro also plans to build establish a bus route to Missouri City, build a new Park & Ride in Pearland, and begin offering bus transportation to the Energy Corridor in west Houston, Roberts said. The budget also includes plans to build 100 bus shelters as well as purchase 100 hybrid buses.