- LANTA plans a two-phase fare restoration for its 31-Day Pass, with the first stage starting Oct. 1, and the second on Jan 1
- The public transportation authority explained the need for a gradual fare adjustment
- In February 2020, LANTA introduced temporary fare reductions to support riders during the COVID-19 pandemic
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority will restore its monthly pass fare to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level.
LANTA said it will take a two-phase approach to fare adjustments to facilitate a smooth transition.
“We don’t want to drop it on everyone at once, so we kinda want to take a slower approach."Darryl Lightner, manager of communication and strategic initiatives with LANTA
On Oct. 1, the 31-Day Pass will become $30, while the second stage is effective Jan. 1, when the pass will be back to the $60 full cost.
"While we are happy to keep these costs very affordable for our service areas, the funding for that has now ended," LANTA Manager of Communication and Strategic Initiatives Darryl Lightner said.
"And we must restore it back to where it was previously. We don’t want to drop it on everyone at once, so we kinda want to take a slower approach."
Starting in February 2020, in response to the pandemic, LANTA's board implemented temporary fare adjustments for the 31-Day Pass, with passes available at reduced rates of $5 for online or mobile purchases, and $10 for in-person transactions at the transit center or on buses.
The measures were used to maintain essential transportation services while alleviating financial strain on riders, as overall ridership had dropped to 25%, according to LANTA.
After the federal government declared an end to the public health emergency on May 11, there have been discussions about restoring bus fares to their previous structure.
LANTA said ridership has rebounded to 90% of pre-COVID levels, although passenger revenue remains at 70% of pre-pandemic figures.
