ALLENTOWN, Pa. — LANTA riders will soon be paying more to ride the bus. On Tuesday, LANTA’s board of directors approved the first major rate hike in a decade.
The price of a single ride, officials say, hasn’t changed in 18 years and will go from $2 to $2.50.
A day pass will increase from $4 to $5 and a 31-day pass will rise from $60 to $70.
“It’s a struggle for me,” said Erin Plank, a LANTA rider.
Plank, who lives in Emmaus, relies on LANTA daily to get around and go to doctor’s appointments. She told us an injury to the back of her head left her unable to drive, making public transit a necessity.
“For me to come to a doctor’s appointment, it takes four buses,” Plank explained.
Plank said she’s not a fan of the new fare increase — especially when it comes to 3-hour passes and day passes.
“You might as well get an Uber if you’re paying all that money,” Plank stated.
LANTA officials initially planned a fare increase in 2020 but put that on pause because of COVID. They say it costs more than ever to operate vehicles, including fuel, labor and maintenance.
Fare increases are set to go into effect mid-March.