Oregon Public Broadcasting

Faced with skyrocketing diesel costs, public transit agencies across the country are raising fares.

In the Portland area, TriMet is considering a twenty to twenty-five cent fare hike that could raise the cost of an all-zone ticket to $2.30.

Fred Hansen is the general manager of TriMet.  He says though the buses only get five miles per gallon, that’s relatively good bus mileage.

Fred Hansen: “That is one of the best in the nation for comparable systems.  And we’re very proud of that because before we’d ever ask our riders to be able to help bear the brunt of that diesel fuel cost, we want to make sure we are as fuel efficient as possible.”

Hansen adds that higher gas prices for motorists have definitely increased ridership on TriMet.

In April, TriMet ridership was up 3.5 percent over last year.