The Met Council's Transportation Committee will meet Monday and it's expected to authorize a series of public meetings on potential fare adjustments for regular route transit, dial-a-ride transit and paratransit services.
Proposals under consideration would raise fares 25 or 50 cents on regular-route and express routes and the downtown fare from cents to $1 in an effort to close a $74 million shortfall.
As a result of inflationary pressures, growth in Metro Mobility demand, and reductions in Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) receipts, the Met Council is facing a deficit for the fiscal year 2018-2019. The Council aims to achieve an average farebox recovery rate on regular route bus service of 28.5 percent. The farebox recovery rate for bus has been trending downward and fell below 28 percent in 2014.
Federal guidelines and Metropolitan Council policy require that fare adjustments be reviewed through a public hearing and public comment process prior to adoption. Summaries of the recommended changes and public input will be presented to the Transportation Committee in July before being presented to the Council for final consideration.
A public comment period will run from April 13 to June 26. Public hearings and meetings will be scheduled in May and June.
Monday's meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at Metropolitan Council Chambers, 390 North Robert St., St. Paul.
