Riders who depend on the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District could pay more for one way fares and monthly passes starting Oct. 1.  The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Transportation Committee approved proposed fare increases Friday for the first time since 2009. If ratified at the board’s July 24 meeting, the cost of a one-way transit fare would increase by 50 cents to $3 beginning Oct. 1. Monthly passes would increase to $85 while discounted fares for riders who are seniors, youth, disabled, would cost $28 for their monthly pass.  Traynisha Kendall, an MTS rider, said the higher fares would put additional pressure on riders already struggling with the high cost of living. “The rent is already high in San Diego. So, to be riding the trolley and have to pay $6 (roundtrip) is expensive, too. Not everybody has that. They already have to pay a bunch of bills,” Kendall said while waiting at the 5th Avenue trolley station in downtown on Friday. Both MTS and the North County Transit District face combined budget deficits totaling more than $135 million by 2030. Under the SANDAG committee’s proposal, another 50-cent fare increase could take effect Oct. 1, 2027. “Nobody wants people to have to pay more to ride the train, ride a bus to get to work and see their family,” said Aria Grossman, policy manager for Circulate Planning Policy. An estimated annual $14 million in additional revenue would help prevent service cuts that would lead to longer wait times and reduced transit options. “This just becomes a choice that people don’t want to take and you ultimately lose riders on the system which negatively impacts everyone who needs the system across the county,” Grossman told NBC San Diego. Despite the committee’s reasons, some riders like Jennifer Kennedy believe there is a bigger issue. “Especially when much of California does not really have reliable public transportion, raising the rate just seems unfair and really discouraging,” she said. The full SANDAG board of directors will consider the fare increases at its next meeting on July 24. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less