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Phoenix's Valley Metro will implement a fare increase on March 1 for its light-rail and bus services.

The current one-ride fare will increase by 25 cents on the local bus/LINK/light-rail services and 50 cents on Express/RAPID services, said Valley Metro officials in a prepared statement.

The new fare structure will result in Express/RAPID riders to "more equitably share in the cost of transit operations," they said.

The fare changes were set after the agency received public feedback about the proposed increase.

"We recognize that a fare increase can be challenging for our customers," said Chief Executive Officer Steve Banta. "However, what we heard loud and clear during public outreach was a value for our existing service. This increase will maintain the service on the street today."

The agency last raised fares in 2009.