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Next Steps:
June 14: Service changes implemented
July 1: Fare changes implemented
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On March 26, 2009, the MTS Board of Directors approved a proposal to cut service by $4.7 million and raise monthly pass fares for a $2.2 million subsidy. The service reductions are needed because of the elimination of State Transit Assistance funds by the State of California.
In the process of making this decision, over 1,000 comments were received via email, voicemail, and letter. The MTS Board adopted a strategy of plugging the budget gap with a combination of $4.7 million in service reductions and $2.2 million in fare increases.
Service Adjustments
Most service reductions consist of reduced frequencies on nights and weekends. Routes with lower ridership will be impacted more. Some days or route segments on these routes will be losing service. Service changes are effective June 14.
Please look at this chart to see how your route is affected.
Fare Adjustments
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the regional agency in charge of transit fares in San Diego County. The MTS Board approved the recommendation on March 26, SANDAG approved the fare changes May 8.
| Product |
Current |
Proposed |
| Adult Monthly Pass |
$68 |
$72 |
| Senior/Disabled/Medicare |
$17 |
$18 |
| Youth Monthly Pass |
$34 |
$36 |
| Premium Adult Monthly Pass |
$90 |
$100 |
| Premium Senior/Disabled/Medicare Monthly Pass |
$22.50 |
$25 |
| Premium Youth Monthly Pass |
$45 |
$50 |
| Trolley Fare |
$2.50 (no change) |
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| Trolley Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare |
$1.25 (no change)
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| Downtown Trolley Fare |
$1.25 |
$2.50 |
| Downtown Trolley Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare |
$0.60 |
$1.25 |
| Local/Urban Bus Fare |
$2.25 (no change) |
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| Local/Urban Bus Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare |
$1.10 (no change)
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| Shuttle Fares: |
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| Routes 851, 871/872, 904 |
$1.00 |
$2.25 |
| Senior/Disabled/Medicare Shuttle Fare |
$0.50 |
$1.10 |
What Happened:
The State of California Legislature's budget passed on February 19, 2009, eliminating the State Transit Assistance fund for the next five years. This eliminated an important funding source and now requires public transit agencies all over the State of California to reduce their budgets.
For the Metropolitan Transit System, this eliminated $14 million from its operating budget. While MTS will still receive capital dollars from the Federal government to purchase badly needed buses (many of which are more than 15 years old), the state’s elimination of operating dollars forced MTS to consider reducing services or raising fares or a combination of both.
Also negatively impacting the MTS operating budget is reduced spending in the State of California. About 50% of the MTS operating budget relies on sales taxes. Revenues from TransNet sales taxes and Transportation Development Act revenues are expected to decline more than $12 million from 2007 levels.
Combined, MTS faced a shortfall of up to $17 million for the next fiscal year and reacted to fix its deficit.
MTS encourages you to learn more about the California budget and its impact on public transportation. Links to resources are below.
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