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Amid rising costs, how much should MTS trolley and North County bus fares be raised?

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Ahead of possible fare hikes in early 2019, the transit agencies are inviting public comments between 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Oceanside Library Community Room, 330 N. Coast Highway.

Officials of the San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District are inviting the public.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to submit public comments, speak to staff members, and learn more about the proposed changes,” said agency officials.

All comments will be summarized and presented to the SANDAG, MTS and NCTD boards of directors over the next few months, officials say. If approved by all three boards of directors, the proposed changes will be carried out in early 2019.

“MTS and NCTD are proposing to adjust fare structures to ensure that safe and reliable transit services are maintained,” the agencies said.

“Over the last 10 years, operational costs have increased, while fare revenue has declined, and fares have not increased. The proposed changes also will simplify the fare structure across the region, making it easier to access a wide range of transit options.”

If you can’t attend the meeting, comments may be submitted by phone at (619) 595-5321, email at pio@sandag.org, through the online Comment Form, or by mail to SANDAG PIO, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101.

Meanwhile, NCTD announced plans for four “pop-up” events to seek customer and community ideas about improving transit service.

“The community engagement will focus on the origins and destinations of customer trips; the first and last mile between transit and destinations; the travel between home and transit stations; and how new services and trends could relate to future transit services,” the district said.

“Outreach teams” will be at the following locations:

Escondido Tamale Festival

Grape Day Park

Saturday, Nov. 3 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Vista Transit Center

240 N. Santa Fe Rd.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Oceanside Transit Center

Corner of S. Cleveland St. and Seagaze Dr.

Thursday, Nov. 15

6 a.m. – 8 a.m.

Encinitas Library

540 Cornish Drive

Thursday, Nov. 15

4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The outreach is part of NCTD’s Land Use and Transportation Integration Study, which is funded by a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant.

The study is intended to:

Help guide improvements in transit operations.

Provide potential strategies that NCTD would further study and collaborate with local jurisdictions on based on existing and future regional land use development plans.

Serve as a tool to encourage local and regional greenhouse gas reduction that will complement planned population growth and increased housing needs.

And encourage a sustainable environment.

The Land Use and Transportation Integration Study launched in June 2018 and will conclude in August 2019.

Trolley, Bus Fares Seen Rising in 2019; Public Can Advise How Much was last modified: by

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