NASHVILLE, Tenn. — WeGo Public Transit fares and multi-day passes will increase for the first time since 2012 on Friday, with the minimum fair increasing from $1.70 to $2.
In June, the agency’s Board of Directors approved recommended service and fare change proposals, due largely in part to a deficit WeGo Public Transit faced going into the fiscal year.
According to WeGo officials, they were facing an $8.7 million deficit due to numerous things, including a loss of funding from the state, inflation, and rising costs of fuel and health care.
WeGo officials requested more money for their budget to maintain current service levels and prices, but they were not awarded enough money to keep prices where they are and to keep all of their routes intact.
Officials say the budget deficit is not due to rebranding, renovations, or the purchasing of new buses, as those come out of a separate pool of funds that aren't allowed to be used for day-to-day bus service.
Because of that, beginning Friday, each one-way trip on regular bus service will be $2.00 and prices for all multi-day passes, including discounted passes, will be adjusted as well.
Changes to WeGo's paratransit service fares include an increase from $3.40 to $3.70 per trip for the agency’s traditional Access service, and an increase from $6.00 to $7.00 for the first 14 miles for WeGo’s Access-on Demand service.
While most fares are increasing, the cost of youth passes are either remaining the same, or actually decreasing.
While fares change on Friday, service changes will go into effect September 29.
