San Diego County transit fares increased this week for the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District, marking the region's first major fare hike since 2009, according to NBC 7 San Diego and City News Service.

Monthly MTS and NCTD passes rose from $72 to $85 for adults and from $23 to $28 for senior, disabled and Medicare riders. NCTD COASTER fares also shifted to a flat-fare model, with one-way COASTER fares set at $6.50 for adults and $3.25 for eligible reduced-fare riders.

The fare change does not affect the Youth Opportunity Pass, which lets riders 18 and younger ride free with a Youth PRONTO app account or card. A second approved fare increase is scheduled for fall 2027, when monthly passes are set to rise to $95 for adults and $30 for senior, disabled and Medicare riders.

For Santee residents, the change matters because the city is served by MTS trolley and bus connections, including service at Santee Town Center. SANDAG said the fare hike was approved to help keep transit service levels as high as possible while the agencies face budget challenges.

NBC 7 reported that eligible riders enrolled in CalFresh, Medi-Cal or CalWORKs may qualify for the PRONTO Low-Income Fare Eligible Program, which keeps reduced fares available through an approved PRONTO card or mobile app. Applications are available through MTS.

This article is based on NBC 7 San Diego's Oct. 1 report on the San Diego County transit fare increase.