Metropolitan Transit Authority officials are poised to approve a change to the transit agency’s transfer policy, removing a provision that banned transfers in the opposite direction of the first trip.

In other words, a rider could ride anywhere in any direction for three hours.

The change, expected to be approved on Thursday, would increase ridership by about 1 percent, said Julie Fernandez, Metro’s lead fiscal and budget policy analyst.

For current riders, however, it could be a huge benefit, officials said, even if it meant a $2 million annual reduction in fare revenue for the agency.

Under the new rules, someone traveling to the grocery by bus would see their total transportation cost cut in half, since they would avoid another fare for the return trip.

“That will be $1.25 trip rather than $2.50,” Metro board member Christof Spieler said.

The change would be the latest for Metro, which has altered rules and policies large and small to reverse a downward ridership trend. Officials restructured the entire bus system in August, three months after opening two new rail lines. Metro also brought back paper transfers, allowing cash paying customers the chance to transfer.

Those change, however, remain a work in progress as riders adjust. Officials said they are pleased with ridership on the new system. Further, Metro CEO Tom Lambert said the agency is working to lure more people onto buses and trains, which requires improving service and making rules more favorable to riders.

“With that you are going to have some corresponding loss in revenue,” Lambert said.

The change to three hours for any transfer in any direction builds on that, officials said, even at a financial cost.

“I really think this is something we need to do,” Metro board member Jim Robinson said.