Higher bus fares, route changes to be considered

City officials are starting the public discussion of raising fares for Modesto Area Express buses and the Dial-A-Ride system and route changes to the public transit system.

Modesto is considering raising the fares for riding a bus from $1.50 to $2 for regular passengers, $1.25 to $1.50 for students, 75 cents to $1 for seniors and the disabled, as well as increasing the cost of a day pass from $3.25 to $4. The city is considering smaller increases for Dial-A-Ride.

Modesto also is considering adding more buses to routes 26 and 38, which have high demand, while consolidating routes 21, 26 and 43 into two routes and routes 23 and 27 into one route. These routes have low demand, according to a city report.

There are other proposals for the fare increases and route changes, but these are the ones city officials are recommending.

The City Council's Healthy Economy Committee will discuss this Wednesday but take no action. The full council would have to approve any changes, and the council is not expected to consider that until September.

Modesto also plans to hold four open houses this summer for the public. If the council approves the fare increases and route changes, they would take effect in January.

Like other public transit systems, Modesto's is subsidized by the state and federal governments. Modesto is required to collect 20 percent of its revenue through fares. A city report states Modesto is in danger of falling below that threshold.

The committee meeting is open to the public. The meeting is at 2 p.m. in room 2005 on the second floor of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Higher bus fares, route changes to be considered."