Cleveland RTA postpones fare hike

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) earlier this week approved delaying a fare increase that would have gone into effect in August.

The agency is putting the fare hike on hold as it studies the impact of increasing fares, GCRTA officials said in a press release.

"The biggest impact on loss of ridership is affordability among those with reduced incomes," said Joe Calabrese, GCRTA's chief executive officer and general manager. "We need to take a look at the possibility of modifying our fare structure to best assure fairness and equity to our customers."

In 2016, GCRTA's ridership fell 6 percent after a 25-cent fare hike. The decline was double the projected loss, according to a February cleveland.com report.

GCRTA will study fare options over the next few months. Last month, the agency first announced the possibility of delaying the fare hike.