CapMetro’s board of directors is scheduled to consider a two-stage fare increase at noon Monday at the agency’s headquarters on East Fifth Street in Austin. If approved, the proposal would begin raising fares in January 2027, with another increase in January 2029. Local bus and pickup fares would rise from $1.25 to $1.50 in 2027 and then to $2 in 2029. Commuter fares would increase from $3.50 to $4 and then $5. CapMetro Access, the agency’s service for eligible riders with disabilities, would go from $1.75 to $2.25 and then $3.25. The agency says higher fuel, equipment, maintenance and operating costs are driving the proposal. It says additional fare revenue would help cover operations, support reliable service and maintain existing and future transit infrastructure. CapMetro has not proposed ending discounts for seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare cardholders or eligible military personnel. Riders who spoke during public comment described competing concerns: keeping transit financially sustainable while ensuring that fares remain affordable for people who depend on buses for work, school and medical appointments. Anthony Rodriguez said he relies on the bus and is unemployed while saving for a car, and urged the agency to seek other funding rather than increase fares. Project Connect Advisory Committee chair Awais Azhar supported the proposal, saying the system needs financial resources to remain reliable and serve more parts of the community. The proposed changes would be the first systemwide fare increase in more than a decade. For regular riders, the vote could determine how quickly the cost of everyday trips rises—and whether CapMetro can balance affordability with the expenses of running and maintaining its services.