The state Transportation Department will be raising bus and rail fares throughout January, according to agency press releases.
Rail fares on the New Haven Line and Shore Line East will go into effect on Jan. 1. The increase is the last of three rate hikes approved to help pay off new rail cars. According to the department, the new rates will result in about a 5 percent increase on Jan. 1 across all types of rail fares.
Bus fares are set to increase Jan. 19 for most CTTRANSIT and ADA Paratransit services. The one-way cash fare on the CTTRANSIT local bus service will increase 20 cents to $1.50 and one-way ADA Paratransit service will rise to $3, according to the DOT. Ten-trip tickets will now cost $24. The cost of one- and three-day passes will decrease slightly. Travelers who buy “flash passes” won’t see their fees increase until February.
Transfer times also will increase on Jan. 19 from 90 minutes to two hours, according to the press release.
In a statement, Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said the department has held bus fares steady since January 2012.
“We realize that it is a difficult time to raise fares,” he said. “Unfortunately, operating expenses dictate the need to raise fares to maintain the current level of service. We’ve done our best to moderate the impact on our riders by listening to the feedback gathered during the public comment process.”
New bus fares can be viewed on the department’s website at www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/Bus_Fares_Effective_01192014.pdf
Information on rail fares for Shore Line East can be viewed at www.shorelineeast.com/fares_passes/fares.php
For info on the New Haven Line visit mta.info/mnr/html/fares.htm
