books
Campus Life
Dayton News
interview
Local
Sinclair Faculty and Staff
Society
Tartan Spotlight
World
At the start of the new year, students who take the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to Sinclair will have noticed increases in the cost of transit, as most fixed routes have risen between 9% and 13%. Adult single riders must now pay $2.20 instead of the previous $2 fare. Daily passes have increased by 50 cents to $4.50; monthly passes are now $60 instead of the last $55.
Paratransit routes, which provide transportation for people with disabilities, have also seen fare hikes. While these fares hadn’t increased since 2009, they have now risen by 50 cents—bringing the cost to $4 for a single ride and $9 for a daily pass. Monthly rates for paratransit have not been raised and remain at $32.
< Tartan Spotlight: Autumn Lala, Beacon of Commitment to Educational Success >
On-demand transit was previously free, providing bussing to places that fixed routes do not reach. Now, the RTA has begun charging $3 for on-demand rides and $3 for no-shows or cancellations. Those who schedule a ride through the RTA call center must have a Tapp Pay account. Tapp Pay is a cashless system implemented in 2021 that uses an app on riders’ smartphones or an RTA smartcard to pay for fares digitally.
The last fares were raised in 2018, seven years ago. However, this trend is ramping up as more price increases are scheduled for 2026 and 2027. This is to adapt to the increasing cost of running and maintaining these routes and accommodate service improvements. The RTA has kept fares far below inflationary price increases, and fares should remain under these escalations.
As Sinclair students and daily riders in the Dayton community adjust to these fare increases, accessible and affordable transportation remains a priority. While higher costs may pose challenges, the RTA continues to work toward maintaining reliable service and planning for future improvements.
Riders should stay informed about upcoming changes and explore budget-friendly options, such as monthly passes, to ease the financial impact.
Noah Schlarman, Copy Editor