Commuters in many cities across the country will be forced to pay higher fares this year.
Chicago Transit Authority fares, for instance, will increase by as much as 120% on Jan. 14. A monthly bus and "L"-train pass will jump from $86 to $100 -- representing an annual increase of $168.
New Yorkers, meanwhile, will see the cost of a single subway fare go up by a quarter to $2.50 per ride starting in March. A monthly pass will go up $8 to $112.
In many regions, transit agencies continue to face higher operational costs and stagnant tax revenues, forcing fare holders to fill the gap, said Virginia Miller, spokeswoman for the American Public Transportation Association.
