Public transportation costs are set to rise in the Bay Area, a region with some of the most congested freeways and longest commute distances in the country. Last week, BART directors came together and voted to pass increases for ride fares and parking fees. These increases are designed to be small and incremental and to rise with inflation. The first fare hike will happen on January 1, 2014 and will raise prices by 5.2 percent. That means the average ride will go from $3.59 to $3.78. Further fare increases will be implemented every two years until 2020.
