DART raising fares for the first time in six years

DALLAS - Dallas Area Rapid Transit is raising fares. It’s also trying to help out its regular riders.

Beginning on Saturday, the price for DART’s local day pass is going up from $5 to $6. The regional pass will increase from $10 to $12. Monthly and annual pass prices will increase as well.

This is the first time DART has raised its fares. The transit agency said it’s partly due to expanded rail and bus services.

“You know, it kind of stinks that they’ll be increasing it. I mean, up a dollar pretty much for the all-day pass which is 20 percent. But I mean, they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do, I guess,” said Katherine Fitzharris, a DART rider.

DART is ending the two-hour passes and instead will begin offering an A.M. and P.M. pass for $3. The change is supposed to give value to people who need to go places but don’t need a full day pass. DART said it realized two hours was not enough time for most people to run errands or make appointments.

The third big change is a fare cap. DART hopes it will help riders save money in the long run and they’ll never pay more than the total cost of a day pass in a single day.

The single-ride pass is also coming back for buses only. It will cost $2.50 and will be cash only.