Oregon Public Broadcasting

Mass transit riders in the Portland Metro area want to budget an extra quarter into their plans starting in September.  The TriMet Board of Directors approved a  25 cent fare increase for adult riders Wednesday.

That's to offset the soaring cost of diesel.

Mary Fetsch with TriMet says the agency also implemented cost-cutting measures, like trimming 14 positions.  But she said  the fare increase is crucial because TriMet buys 7 million gallons of fuel a year.

Mary Fetsch: "That's a lot of diesel.  When you're seeing the price, we're nearly doubling our budget from what we had last year to the next fiscal year budget.  So we're seeing almost a doubling in the price of fuel."

Five cents of the increase cover inflation.  Youth riders and the elderly will see a ten cent increase. 

TriMet also increased fares last September.  Fetsch says despite the tax break TriMet receives on diesel, they expect their prices to soar over $4 a gallon.