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Starting this week, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officials plan to hold a series of meetings in March to solicit public opinions on a number of issues, including a proposed fare increase that would go into effect in July.

The proposed fare hike is part of BART’s current inflation-based fare increase program, BART officials said in a prepared statement. The increase would generate about $5 million in fiscal-year 2013, they said. The board is considering several options, such as raising fares systemwide by 1.4 percent; hiking fares for trips between East Bay and San Francisco by 10 cents; or increasing fares systemwide by 5 cents.

The program for “small, regular inflation-based fare increases has been key to keeping BART’s service safe and reliable,” agency officials said. Part of the revenue generated from increased fares would go toward the replacing the aging rail-car fleet.

Also, the board is seeking input on a proposal to continue using the inflation-based formula for the years 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020. In addition, the board will ask the public to review and comment on a proposed draft environmental justice policy.