New Metro Bus Fares Announced

With the arrival of the new Metro Buses reportedly just months away, the government announced the new fares for the new system.

Regular routes will cost 45 cents, 20 cents more than the actual fare.  Corridor routes will cost $1.25, 25 cents more than the actual fare.

These rates grant users the right to use the Metro Bus system for 150 minutes straight if they choose, and what’s more, they can take as many buses as they want within those two and a half hours.

If the math is correct, a user earning a minimum wage of $349 a month could purchase 775 regular route bus fares and ride the buses for a total of 1,937.50 hours a month.  However, a user going to and from work on the regular routes would most likely just have one round trip per day, spending 90 cents or approximately eight percent of a $349 minimum wage salary on transportation.

The new single rate fares will go into effect either when the whole float is renewed or in a year’s time, whichever comes first.  There are hopes that the first 120 Volvo and Mercedes brand buses will be introduced by December.  Another 89 are expected in 2011.

Transporte Masivo de Panama led by Fanalca, a Colombian company, will design, supply and operate the “Safe, Comfortable, Dependable” system.

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