BART fares set to rise in 2016

BART passengers can expect to pay more for a ride in 2016 as fares are set to increase around 3.4 percent starting on Friday. BART passengers can expect to pay more for a ride in 2016 as fares are set to increase around 3.4 percent starting on Friday. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close BART fares set to rise in 2016 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

BART passengers can expect to pay more for a ride in 2016 as fares are set to increase around 3.4 percent starting on Friday.

The increase is part of an inflation-based formula BART adopted in 2003 to assist with the billions of dollars the agency needs to keep the system running safely and reliably.

Under the formula, fares will be increased at the start of every even-number year through 2020.

BART's board of directors voted to dedicate all the money from the increases to its top priority projects, including new train cars, a new train control system and the Hayward Maintenance Complex.

Fares were last raised at the start of 2014 with a 5.2 percent increase.

BART officials said the 2016 increase is estimated to generate $15 million annually, in addition to the $20 million the 2014 increase generated annually.

The minimum BART fare, which is currently at $1.85, will rise to $1.95 come the new year on Friday morning.

Details on the planned increase are available at www.bart.gov/guide/titlevi along with a chart indicating the increases per ride in 2016.

-- Bay City News