The Board of Commissioners of the Bi-State Development Agency/Metro approved the budget for the new fiscal year which begins on July 1. The budget, which incorporates a planned 2.5 percent fare increase, outlines $315.9 million in operational expenses before depreciation and a $602.8 million (three-year) capital budget.
The operating budget includes a 3.1percent increase over last year’s total expenses before depreciation, due primarily to higher fuel and maintenance costs, rising employee benefit expenses and rehabilitation projects for MetroLink and MetroBus stops, according to Metro. The operating budget will sustain transit service at its current level.
The capital budget allocates resources for major capital projects planned in FY2015, including the expansion of the Civic Center Transit Center in downtown St. Louis, construction of the North County Transit Center and updating the fare collection system.Â