The Capital Metro's Board of Directors has approved a fare increase, effective Jan. 1.
Regular bus fare will increase from 75 cents to $1, unless the increase is vetoed by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Seniors, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders will still ride for free.
The fare increase is part of Cap Metro's long-range financial plan to help mitigate rising transportation costs.
The board, however, rejected a budget proposal last month that would use federal stimulus money to hold down fares until August 2010.
The board said it would rather direct the money to develop the commuter rail, which has been postponed since fall 2008.