The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, also known as AC Transit, will raise its prices on Wednesday.
Riders can expect to pay an additional 25 cents on local rides, from $2.75 to $3, and an extra 50 cents for transbay rides, from $6 to $6.50, according to AC Transit.
Alongside the fare hike, the agency plans to roll out a multilingual outreach effort focused on reducing fare evasion by adding additional “fare required” signage and announcements throughout their system. Some 500 AC Transit buses already include this information on the digital display system on the front of buses.
“When fares go unpaid, those dollars are lost and must be made up elsewhere through budget reductions, reserve funds, or additional funding sources,” the agency said in a statement. “Over time, persistent revenue losses can make it more difficult to maintain the existing service levels, invest in improvements, and ultimately meet the growing demand for AC Transit services.”
The agency developed a five-year plan of gradual fare increases, which started in 2018, but paused its implantation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid “budget shortfalls and stagnant ridership,” the planned fare increase is expected to generate an additional $7.9 million in revenue by the end of this current fiscal year, according to AC Transit.
The agency has also thrown its support behind Senate Bill 63, a public transit revenue measure also known as the Connect Bay Area Act that will be on the ballot this November. If approved by voters, the measure will raise sales tax across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties by half a cent, and one cent in San Francisco. AC Transit officials said that this measure would help prevent service cuts and assist in closing the agency’s projected $74 million budget gap for this fiscal year.
AC Transit is also projecting a $200 million deficit over the next four years and is arguing that the ballot measure will provide the agency with sustainable reoccurring funding that would deliver long-term needs and prevent alterations or suspensions of routes.
AC Transit will still maintain its 25-cent discount for Clipper Card and mobile fare payments for local rides.