Connect-A-Ride Fares Increase July 16

Taking the bus today? You may want to bring extra change.

Effective Monday, the new base fare for Connect-A-Ride has increased from $1.50 to $1.75, according to Central Maryland Regional Transit (CMRT), which includes Howard Transit.

“With increasing costs and static funding provided to our service, the difficult decision to raise fares was one of several ways implemented to make up the deficit," Beverly Walenga, CMRT's interim chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"We need to offset a $250,122 deficit for fiscal year 2013,” said Walenga.

Additionally, other rates changed after a June 14 hearing in which, according to a statement released by CMRT, “not a single member of the community attended to voice their concerns.”

The new rates:

• Base Fare = $1.75
• Senior/Disabled Fare = $ .85
• Monthly Pass = $96.50
• Monthly Pass – Senior/Disabled = $48.25
• 10-Ride Pass = $15.75
• 10-Ride Pass (Senior/Disabled) = $7.85

“We understand that these tough times call for families to tighten their purse strings,” Janet Owens, chair of the CMRT board of directors, said in a statement. “CMRT also has to contain costs and find new revenue sources to maintain the service our customers know and rely upon.”