There is a plan in the works to boost the fares of San Luis Obispo County's Runabout bus service operated by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA).
The paratransit service is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program that provides service complementary to the fixed-route transit lines available in communities county-wide.
People have to quality for the service, showing they have physical or mental disabilities that keep them from riding the fixed-route busses.
The cost to operate Runabout is roughly 15 times higher than the fixed-route lines on a per-passenger basis according to RTA's Executive Director Geoff Straw.
In an effort to find a solution, RTA is considering a fare hike to twice the base fixed-route rate—the highest available rate under law.
Workshops are planned throughout the county in the coming weeks to help riders understand possible options and changes.
RTA is making presentation on the topic to both the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles City Councils this coming Tuesday.