San Diego's public transportation system is facing a financial crunch, and the solution is a bitter pill for riders to swallow: a fare hike. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) committee has voted to increase fares for bus and trolley riders, with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit leading the charge. This decision comes as a double blow to commuters, as it coincides with a second fare increase in a year, set for October 1, 2027.
The proposed fare hike, which will take effect on October 1, 2026, includes a $1 increase for a standard one-way trip on MTS, rising from $2.50 to $3. A monthly pass will also become more expensive, jumping from $72 to $85. These changes are a stark reminder of the city's high cost of living, and they don't come without controversy.
The Circulate Planning & Policy, a San Diego nonprofit, has come out in support of the increase, arguing that it's the only way to prevent service cuts. Aria Grossman, policy manager at Circulate, acknowledges the hardship it causes, but emphasizes the necessity of maintaining transit services that San Diego residents rely on. She believes that raising fares is a trade-off that riders have consistently accepted.
However, the fare hike has sparked public opposition, particularly from low-income residents who are already struggling. City Heights resident Eddie Reyes Navar shared a personal story of how public transit was a lifeline for him and his mother, enabling their access to education and work. He fears that the fare increase will disproportionately affect students and workers, making it harder for them to get to their destinations.
The MTS, despite experiencing ridership gains, is facing a projected deficit of $120.1 million by 2029. To address this, they've proposed a Low-Income Fare Eligible (LIFE) program, which aims to maintain current costs for certain riders, including those enrolled in CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs benefit programs. San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera has proposed a plan to freeze some fares, recognizing the hardship that fare increases cause, especially for those with the least to give.
This fare hike is not an isolated incident. The last increase, in 2019, was the first since 2009, and officials cited a 25% increase in transit operating costs over the previous decade as the reason. Both MTS and North County Transit were instructed by SANDAG to conduct a Transit Fare Change Study, which considered various scenarios and their impact on riders. The agencies' input on the region's Comprehensive Fare Ordinance was presented at SANDAG's Transportation Committee meeting, where public comments were also solicited.
The debate surrounding this fare hike highlights the complex balance between financial sustainability and accessibility for public transit. While SANDAG and the transit agencies argue that the increase is necessary to maintain services, the public's concerns about the burden on low-income residents cannot be ignored. As San Diego grapples with this issue, it raises a deeper question about the role of public transportation in a city's infrastructure and the responsibility of policymakers to ensure its affordability for all residents.
