DENVER -- It's going to cost more to ride the bus, starting with the new year.

The Regional Transportation District announced fair increases for local, express, regional and light rail Monday.

"RTD has experienced significant increases in operating expenses primarily through dramatic rises in fuel prices along with substantial growth in demand for ADA-mandated paratransit service," said spokesman Scott Reed. "RTD has also experienced shortfalls in tax revenues."

Local cash fairs will go up 25 cents to $1.75. Access-A-Ride cash fares will go up 50 cents to $3.50. The regular local 10-ride ticket book will go up $2.25 to $15.75, which the discount local 10-ride ticket book will go up 50 cents to $8.

The local monthly bus pass is rising from $54 to $60 and the discount local monthly bus pass is going up $1 to $30.

Light rail fares will also change. Light rail fares are determined by the number of zones crossed during a one-way trip, and zones are defined by a distance-based radius starting from the central Downtown Denver area. Travel within a single zone or between two bordering zones are a local fare. Trips passing through three bordering zones are an express fare. Trips passing through four zones are a regional fare.

The cash local fair will rise to $1.75 and the cash round-trip fair will go up 50 cents to $3.50. Other tickets will rise accordingly.

A series of public meetings was held in August to discuss the proposed fare increase, and the RTD Board of Directors approved the plan at their September 2007 meeting.

For route and schedule information, please call RTD’s Telephone Information Center at 303.299.6000. Call 303.299.6089 for the speech and hearing impaired. Visit RTD’s web site at www.RTD-Denver.com.