Public Transit Fares In Maryland To Increase Sunday

MARYLAND — Fares for public transit will soon increase in Maryland. People will pay 10 cents more for Local Bus, Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink services starting this Sunday, according to the Maryland Transit Administration.

Single-trip fares will increase from $1.90 to $2.00 for core service, which was last changed in 2019. Single-trip fares for MobilityLink paratransit service will increase from $2.10 to $2.20.

The increase was scheduled to go into effect last year but was pushed back with funds from the American Relief Plan Act of 2021, the MTA said.

The Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 requires the MTA to increase fares for core service by a minimum of 10 cents or more every two years.

State transportation officials said the calculation is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.

"Despite the mandated increase, MDOT MTA fares are among the lowest of top transit agencies across the United States, and transit offers a great value for consumers as prices at the gas pump continue to rise," the administration said in a news release.

Customers using CharmPass, the MTA’s mobile ticketing app, get an added cost-saving benefit of free transfers within 90 minutes when riding between Local Bus, Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink.

The MTA also offers CharmFlex, a discounted fare option to accommodate Marylanders who are returning to onsite work on a more flexible or hybrid work schedule.

Using CharmFlex, riders pay about 15 percent less compared to the cost of a day-pass or single-trip fare. As of June 26, the three-day CharmFlex pass will cost $11.70 and the 10-day pass will cost $39.10.