What you need to know about TriMet fares: Some increase Jan. 1, 2024, but month passes/caps remain the same

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Day Passes, Single Ride and 2 ½- Hour Tickets increase, monthly fares and caps for riders using Hop Fastpass™ cards do NOT increase

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TriMet wants to remind riders that some fares will increase on Jan. 1, 2024, but frequent riders who pay using Hop Fastpass™ cards and ride enough to earn a Month Pass will not experience an increase. That’s because the TriMet’s Board of Directors chose to keep the monthly Hop passes/caps at the current rate when they approved the 2024 increase to some fares back in May 2023. Adult, Honored Citizen reduced fare and Youth Day Passes and 2 ½-Hour Tickets will go up, along with LIFT paratransit Single Ride Tickets. This is the first increase in TriMet’s base Adult Fare in more than a decade.

The changes are anticipated to increase TriMet’s fare revenue by about $5.3 million annually, and that amount is expected to increase as service expands and ridership rebounds in the years ahead. The revenue will help stabilize TriMet’s financial future and allow for the rollout of our Forward Together service plan, developed with the community, to increase bus service by more than 30% from pandemic levels. The service expansion will give more people more access to transit service, especially those with lower incomes, so they can reach jobs and other important destinations.

Here’s a look at the fares that increase on Jan. 1, 2024:

Adult:

  • 2 ½-Hour Ticket: up 30 cents to $2.80
  • Day Pass: up 60 cents to $5.60

Honored Citizen reduced fare:

  • 2 ½-Hour Ticket: up 15 cents to $1.40
  • Day Pass: up 30 cents to $2.80

Youth:

  • 2 ½-Hour Ticket: up 15 cents to $1.40
  • Day Pass: up 30 cents to $2.80

LIFT paratransit:

  • Single Ride Ticket: up 30 cents to $2.80

And here are the fares that will NOT increase Jan. 1, 2024, for riders using a Hop card:

Adult:

  • Monthly Pass capped at $100

Honored Citizen reduced fare:

  • Monthly Pass capped at $28

Youth:

  • Monthly Pass capped at $28

While monthly limits stay the same, the increase in daily fares means riders will reach the pass caps sooner and the rest of the rides that month will be free.

Currently, after 20 Adult Day Passes are purchased within a calendar month, the $100 cap for a Month Pass is reached and the rest of the rides that month are free. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, after 18 Adult Day Passes are purchased within a calendar month, the $100 cap for a Month Pass is reached and the rest of the rides that month are free.
Currently, after 12 Honored Citizen or Youth Day Passes are purchased within a calendar month, the $28 cap for a Month Pass is reached and the rest of the rides that month are free. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, after 10 Honored Citizen or Youth Day Passes are purchased within a calendar month, the $28 cap for a Month Pass is reached and the rest of the rides that month are free.

More people now qualify for reduced fare

More people now qualify for our Honored Citizen Reduced fare, and some may not even know it. In addition to those over 65 years of age, people with disabilities and those who qualify based on income level, active and former military members can ride for less – half the cost of adult daily fares and unlimited rides for just $28 a month. That’s a 72% savings over our Adult monthly fare.. People can find out if they qualify for Honored Citizen reduced fare at trimet.org/honoredcitizen.  

First increase in base fare since September 2012 

TriMet’s January 2024 change to daily Adult fares will represent a 12% increase and the first in our base fare since 2012. Over the last decade, people have paid more for everything, from fuel to groceries to basic services and products. Among those, water fees jumped by more than 110%, sewer rates went up more than 50% and garbage collection fees rose by more than 20%.  

TriMet has also seen our expenses increase as well. The cost of tires for our buses has gone up 30% in the past decade. The average cost for a gallon of fuel was 18% higher in the past year than in fiscal year 2018, and since mid-2021, we’ve seen a 10%-25% increase in prices for many of the parts and components for our buses and trains. 

TriMet is helping people afford the ride

Since July 2018, when TriMet expanded the reduced fare program to those making up to 200% of the federal poverty level, more than 53,000 people have signed up. Learn more at trimet.org/income.

Since 2013, TriMet’s Access Transit programs have provided fare assistance and fare relief grants to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and community-based organizations. We give more than 150 organizations fares at a reduced cost or at no cost, so they can get them into the hands of those who need them. Since 2015, TriMet has provided those community partners with more than $15.3 million in fares. Learn more at trimet.org/accesstransit. 

While TriMet’s Youth fare, for those ages 7 through 17, is half the cost of an Adult fare, we also provide high school students free or discounted fares. Learn more at trimet.org/summerpass. Youth age 6 and under ride free with an accompanying adult. 

TriMet provides LIFT paratransit service for those who are unable to use our fixed-route service. The amount riders pay ($2.80 per ride beginning Jan. 1, 2024) is much lower than the actual operating cost of the ride ($79.93 per ride, Oct. 2023). TriMet also charges a reduced rate for LIFT rides lower than required by the federal government.