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Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is spending more money to operate buses, but soon, both bus and rail passengers will pony up because of higher operating costs. Yesterday, the agency approved a five-cent increase on most fares to help cover a $3 million budget deficit resulting from rising fuel costs.

Scheduled to take effect April 1, the increase will raise the base fare from $1.35 to $1.40. The increase will create generate $1.5 million in revenue during the remainder of fiscal-year 2005, which ends Aug. 31.