So the city will also provide a subsidy, but across the board, commuters will see a price increase. Short stops will see a 50 cent increase and longer runs will be increased by a dollar.
And, the worst news for commuters: Not only will the BBA members be increasing but the NBC will be doing so as well:
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"Yes, they will see an increase, an adjustment for the prices for short stops by about 50 cents. And the longer, above 10 miles or so, they will be seeing prices go up by about a dollar. It is a compromised position where the BBA, some of them, they were asking for more than $3 subsidy. And there may have been purchase for even more of a price increase. But here we have a best setting, if you will, where government is putting in its part on behalf of the general public. Commuters will put in their part in terms of paying a little more. And then the operators did not get all that they asked for. So they will be putting a part as well. All in all, for us to be able to deal with higher fuel prices, that's outside of our control."
"Now, but however as it stands, the NBC maintains its position. I expect that it will not increase rates."
"No, I think what has happened since that announcement, there was another increase in fuel prices. And so in discussions with the BBA, the NBC will also be increasing across the board along with them."