More Affordable Transit Coming to San Diego!
We're excited to announce that more affordable and easier to use transit is coming to San Diego!
On March 16th the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Transportation Committee finalized and approved the following:
The reduction of Youth one-way fares from $2.50 to $1.25
The new fare system “PRONTO” that automatically give riders the best allowable fare
No-cost transfers
No Fare increases
This transportation justice victory is essential for the empowerment of our communities. Thank you to the San Diego Transportation Equity Working Group (City Heights CDC, Mid-City CAN, Environmental Health Coalition, Center for Policy Initiative, and SD350) and other fellow allies who continue to advance affordable transit fare policy in San Diego.
We want to especially recognize community leaders from BET (Built Environment Team) and ITCH (Improving Transportation City Heights). For the last 10 years, they have kept transit agencies accountable and advanced transportation justice throughout the San Diego region, including the most recent changes around MTS’s transit fare ordinance.
A huge thank you to Community residents who attended 3 MTS public meetings in March 2021 and voiced opposition on fare adjustment scenarios that suggested fare increases. These fare increases would have come only 2 years after MTS's previous fare increase, placing additional financial burden on transit riders.
Due to resident public participatory efforts, a new scenario policy was presented to the agencies that would allow for “best fares” and reduction of one-way fares of youth with the new PRONTO system. We thank the SANDAG Transportation Committee for listening to our residents and our community needs.
City Heights CDC, residents, and allies believe the fare changes are a step in the right direction but more work is needed to be done. We will continue to push for no-cost transit passes, especially for those aged 24 and under, as part of the new SANDAG “5 Big Moves” Regional Plan.
