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Earlier this month, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority board approved a 3 percent system-wide fare increase for Metrolink. The agency initially proposed raising fares 4.5 percent.

Set to take effect Aug. 1, the fare hike will enable Metrolink to cover increased operating costs, including increases in the rates charged to Metrolink by transit operators participating in the EZ Transit Pass program in Los Angeles.

In addition, Metrolink plans to make several changes to its connecting transit transfer policy, including a transition to an electronic Transit Access Pass smart card and discontinuation of free transfers. However, Metrolink has eliminated a proposed 30 percent co-payment for transit transfers for FY2009-10 because the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority contributed an additional $400,000 subsidy to Metrolink.