Fares on Sound Transit will increase on June 1, 2010, and again in June 2011.

ST Express bus fares have increased only once, in 2005, during the 11 years that the service has operated.

Under the new structure, by 2011 there will be only two different fare levels: one for trips within the same county, and one for inter-county trips.

All trips that cross a county line will be considered an inter-county trip equivalent to the current three-zone fare.

ST Express fares for some adult trips will increase by up to 50 cents in 2010, while fares for other trips will remain unchanged.

There will be no changes for youth fares in 2010, with the exception that the current two-zone youth fare of $1.75 will change to $2.50 if the trip crosses a county line.

Two- and three-zone senior and disabled fares will not change in 2010, except that the current two-zone senior fare of $1.25 will change to $1.50 if the trip crosses a county line; one-zone trips will go up by 25 cents.

In June 2011, Sound Transit will eliminate all zone boundaries within King County. Adult fares will go up by 50 cents in June 2011, with the exception that there will be no fare change for trips that are currently two-zone trips within one county.

For youths, two-zone fares will decrease by 50 cents, while inter-county youth fares will not change and one-zone fares will go up 25 cents.

For seniors and persons with disabilities, fares for trips currently classified as two zones will decrease by 50 cents.

For more information, visit Sound Transit’s Web site at www.soundtransit.org.