By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Starting today (6/28), most bus and MetroLink riders will pay an extra quarter. The basic fare is now $1.50, up from $1.25.
Critics say its unfair for the transit agency to raise rates for people who depend on buses while it builds a $500 million light rail extension.
But Metro spokeswoman Adella Jones says the construction money is coming from a sales tax.
"The funding that we're looking to create, which is $2 million in new revenue, will go strictly into continuing the operation and not having to have any cuts in services," Jones says.
Jones says the prices for day passes that many frequent riders use are not going up.