Amid the worst economic downturn since World War II, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to increase fares for the first time in two years to help offset a $204-million gap in its operating budget for buses and rail systems.

The proposed fare hike, which will go into effect July 1, is opposed by the Bus Riders Union, which protested the planned increase Tuesday morning outside the MTA headquarters in downtown Los Angeles...

As Transportation Reformers continue to wait for the Senate to join the House of
Representatives with a sense of urgency for re-authorizing the federal
transportation spending bill; Senator Barbara Boxer and Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood will hold a "Town Hall" type meeting at Metro
Headquarters from 9:30 A.M. to 3:45 P.M. 

Wilshire Boulevard, the most heavily used bus corridor in Los Angeles
with lines running every couple of minutes and tens of thousands of
passengers enduring lengthy and crowded rides, is about to get a
facelift designed to bring riders some relief.