SamTrans Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a series of fare changes.
The approved changes include an increase to the Adult Local cash fare to $2.25 on January 10, 2016 and to $2.50 on January 20, 2019. The changes establish a 10 percent discount for Clipper customers and increase the age of Youth passengers from 17 to 18 years old, allowing more riders to travel using the discounted Youth pass.
The fare change package also raises the Adult Monthly Pass from $64 to $65.60 on January 10, 2016 and to $72 on January 20, 2019. The Eligible Discount one-way cash fare will increase from $1 to $1.10 on January 10, 2016 and to $1.25 on January 20, 2019. The Eligible Discount Monthly Pass will increase from $25 to $27 on January 10, 2016 and to $31.05 on January 20, 2019.
Fares for paratransit service—vehicles that transport passengers physically unable to travel on fixed-route buses—will also increase. One-way trips on paratransit will be raised from $3.75 to $4.25 on January 1, 2016, and from $4.25 to $4.75 on January 1, 2019.
SamTrans original fare proposal included an initiative to increase the paratransit Lifeline fare by 25 cents. However, following feedback from the public hearing held last month, that proposal was revised to keep Lifeline fares at their current levels.
A separate proposal to eliminate the premium fare for passengers travelling to and from San Francisco was also revised. The premium fare for passengers travelling into San Francisco has been eliminated. However, the premium fare for passengers travelling out of San Francisco will remain at $4.
SamTrans has not raised fares since 2010. The approved fare increases were necessary to help address inflationary costs for operating the bus system and are part of the SamTrans Strategic Plan goals to restore fiscal health in the agency. Transit agencies on average increase fares every 2 – 3 years to meet increasing operating costs.
SamTrans held four community meetings and a public hearing at its October Board of Directors meeting to collect feedback on the proposed fare changes.
