In a press conference, the capital’s president acknowledged that the request for a fare increase occurs in a context in which fares have not been updated for several years. However, he avoided offering more details on the subject.
“Yes. We are in talks. We hope to reach an agreement, reach an agreement. We know that the ticket price has not been increased for several years. We are in dialogue with them,” he said in response to a specific question.
These statements come after the Broad Force of Transporters (FAT), an organization that brings together more than 8,000 transport units in Mexico City, denounced this Tuesday that the capital government has not fulfilled its commitment to adjust fares, as the State of Mexico already did, whose new rates come into force this Wednesday, October 15.
According to the group, more than a month ago the concessionaires held a meeting with the head of Government, Clara Brugada, who promised to grant a fuel bonus and move towards a possible rate increase. However, they warned that there is no progress on these issues.
As an alternative to increasing the fare, the transporters proposed that the city government provide monthly support of 13,000 pesos per unit to maintain the operation of the service.
“The local authority of Mexico City has frozen the granting of a fuel bonus and fares for concessioned public transportation (minibuses, combis and buses) and puts families and formal jobs in the sector at risk,” reads a statement.
The transporters warned that if there is no progress in the negotiations, there could be demonstrations, closures of different roads or, where appropriate, they will stop providing service on some routes, which will negatively impact users.
Rate increases in Edomex
On Friday night, October 10, the government of the State of Mexico published in its official newspaper an agreement from the Mobility Secretariat of that entity approving as of October 15 an increase of two pesos to the minimum fare in concessioned and public transportation.
“The adjustment will ensure the modernization and viability of service provision, under conditions of safety, efficiency, quality and sustainability,” the document reads.
For this reason, in all municipalities of the State of Mexico, the minimum rate becomes 14 pesos the first five kilometers, and each additional kilometer will be charged 25 cents additional.
In the case of mixed service, the minimum fare will be 11 pesos the first 10 kilometers and 25 cents the additional kilometer. In the case of Mexibus and Mexicable, the fare goes from 9.00 to 10.00 pesos.
