C-Tran board votes to raise rates in 2024

C-Tran will ring in 2024 with a 10-cent to 50-cent increase in transit fares.

The Jan. 1 increase was approved by C-Tran’s board on Tuesday. It is the transit agency’s first step in restoring prices to pre-pandemic rates.

C-Tran reduced fares in January 2022 as a temporary measure as Clark County was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates fell by as much as $1.35.

The Jan. 1 increase will affect local and express fares. All riders 18 and younger will continue to ride free via the youth opportunity pass program. C-Tran staff anticipates that the fare restoration could increase revenue between $250,000 and $400,000 per year.

Some who commented at a public hearing before the vote cautioned that an increase in the fare could result in decreased ridership. C-Tran Chief Executive Officer Shawn Donaghy said the agency plans to present the impacts of the fare adjustment to the board after the first quarter of 2024.

Changes

Local: The adult single ride and C-VAN fares will increase from $1 to $1.25. The last increase was in 2016, when fares rose from $1.75 to $1.80. For reference, $1.25 was the rate paid in 2005.

The honored single ride and C-VAN local fares will increase from 50 cents to 60 cents. The day and month caps will remain unchanged.

Regional: Single ride, day and month caps will remain unchanged on C-Tran’s regional routes, but riders transferring to TriMet will have to pay a 30-cent upcharge, a result of TriMet’s fare increase.

Express: The express fare will increase from $2.50 to $3, although the day and monthly caps will be lowered from $7.70 to $6 for the day cap and from $125 to $105 for the month cap.