Bus, trolley and commuter rail fares across San Diego County climb 20% on Thursday, Oct. 1, marking the first significant transit price hike in 17 years.

The increases, first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, affect every route operated by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD). The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Transportation Committee approved the changes on July 17. For Poway and Rancho Bernardo residents who ride the Coaster commuter rail to jobs downtown, the shift is especially sharp.

NCTD is scrapping its old zone-based pricing on the Coaster. Under the previous system, a one-zone trip cost $5, two zones cost $5.75 and three zones cost $6.50. Starting Thursday, every Coaster rider pays a flat $6.50 one-way regardless of distance, according to NCTD's fares page.

Short-haul riders lose out.

A one-zone commuter will pay $1.50 more per trip under the new flat fare. On local buses, the San Diego Trolley and the Sprinter, one-way fares rise from $2.50 to $3. Monthly passes jump from $72 to $85.

A second round of increases takes effect Oct. 1, 2027, pushing bus and Sprinter one-way fares to $3.25, monthly passes to $95 and the Coaster flat fare to $7. A Coaster Regional monthly pass covering Coaster, Sprinter, Breeze, Flex and all MTS services will cost $185 starting Thursday, rising to $190 in that second phase.

For seniors, disabled passengers and Medicare recipients, the Coaster one-way fare will be $3.25 starting Thursday, rising to $3.50 in the 2027 phase. Bus and Sprinter one-way fares for those riders go from $1.25 to $1.50, with monthly passes climbing from $23 to $28 and then to $30.

Both agencies approved a fare freeze called Pronto Life for riders enrolled in CalFresh, CalWORKS or Medi-Cal. San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera said in September, when the program launched, "No one should pretend fare increases are painless."

As of Monday, Sept. 28, just over 1,000 riders had signed up for Pronto Life, fewer than expected. Riders can apply at Ridepronto.com or in person at the MTS Transit Store at 12th and Imperial avenues downtown and at NCTD customer service locations.

The fare freeze is projected to cut deeply into the revenue both agencies expected. MTS now projects $4.6 million a year in new fare revenue, down from $14 million before the freeze was approved. NCTD expects $600,000, down from $1.22 million. The fare hikes are meant to address large budget deficits at both agencies, according to the Union-Tribune.

The new San Diego one-way bus fare of $3 matches or exceeds prices in Dallas, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, Sacramento and Salt Lake City, the Union-Tribune reported.

Riders who want details on the Pronto Life application process can visit Ridepronto.com.