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VTA to Increase Fares, Offer Free Two-Hour Transfers, Lower Youth Fare, and Extend Service in January 2018
11/07/2017
Stacey Hendler Ross

Beginning January 1, 2018, VTA will implement its new fare structure and phase in elements of its New Transit Service. VTA’s new fare policy includes Youth Fares dropping from $1.75 to $1.00 per ride and Adult Fares changing from $2 to $2.25 per ride.

With this new fare structure comes free transfers for two hours between all VTA vehicles for riders who purchase fares via electronic media (Clipper®). The exception is Express bus trips, where free transfers for two hours will be allowed when the passenger transfers between two Express buses; otherwise, a price differential would apply. Additional price adjustments are shown in the table below.

Also taking effect January 1, 2018 are frequency improvements and expanded hours of service. These improvements are part of the New Transit Service.

Light Rail

Frequency on Line 902 (Mountain View to Winchester) will increase from 30 minutes during midday to every 15 minutes during the week.

Rapid 522 (Palo Alto to Eastridge)

  • Evening hours of service extending during the week from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Earlier service hours on weekends, with Saturday beginning at 6 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., Sunday service beginning at 6 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.
  • Later service hours on weekends, with Saturday service ending at 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. and Sunday service ending at 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

Bus Route 72 and 73

  • Monday through Friday, frequency will increase midday from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes.
  • Between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m weekdays., evening service will increase from approximately every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes, after which service will operate hourly until midnight instead of approximately 10 p.m.
  • Saturday frequency improves from every 30 minutes to approximately every 20 minutes and Sunday frequency improves from 45 minutes to approximately every 30 minutes. Evening hours will also be extended on the weekend with Saturday service ending at midnight instead of approximately 9 p.m., and Sunday service ending at 11 p.m. instead of approximately 8 p.m.
The remaining planned service changes under the New Transit Service will go into effect once passenger service of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension begins, currently anticipated for June 2018. At that time, VTA will have new system maps and time guides, light rail lines easily designated by color, new station signage, and more descriptive bus stop signage.

In January, the Community Bus routes will be converted to Local routes and regular fares will be charged. These converted routes will operate until the New Transit Service is implemented.

For more details of system enhancements and modifications planned for next year, please visit http://nextnetwork.vta.org/.

Fare Table, Effective January 1, 2018

  

Adult Fares

Current Price

New Price

Single Ride

$2.00

$2.25

Community Bus

$1.25

Not Applicable*

Light Rail Excursion Pass

$4.00

$4.50

Day Pass

$6.00

$7.00

Monthly Pass

$70.00

$80.00

Prepaid 12-Month Pass

$770.00

$880.00

Adult Express Fares

Current Price

New Price

Single Ride

$4.00

$4.50

Day Pass

$12.00

$13.50

Monthly Pass

$140.00

$160.00

Prepaid 12-Month Pass

$1540.00

$1760.00

Youth Fares

Current Price

New Price

Single Ride

$1.75

$1.00

Community Bus

$0.75

Not Applicable*

Light Rail Excursion Pass

$3.50

$2.00

Day Pass

$5.00

$3.00

Monthly Pass

$45.00

$30.00

Summer Blast Pass

$75.00

$60.00

Prepaid 12-Month Pass

$495.00

$330.00

Senior/Disabled Fares

Current Price

New Price

Single Ride

$1.00

$1.00

Community Bus

$0.50

Not Applicable*

Light Rail Excursion Pass

$2.00

$2.00

Day Pass

$2.50

$3.00

Monthly Pass

$25.00

$30.00

Prepaid 12-Month Pass

$275.00

$330.00


​*Community Bus routes will be converted to Local routes and regular fares will be charged.

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