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The Public Transport Expert Panel recommended raise the value of the ticket in buses and Metro in 30 pesosthis with the purpose that the system can be sustainable over timeThe.
This way, a ticket aboard a Red bus (ex Transantiago) would cost $730while the Metro ticket -during peak hours- would increase to $830.
It should be remembered that it was the same panel of experts that recommended an increase of 30 pesos two years agosituation that generated a massive wave of protests and mass evasions which subsequently triggered the social outbreak of October 18. For that reason, the then President Piñera it annulled the increase by decree.
in conversation with T13, John Paul Montero, president of the Panel of Experts and academic of the Catholic University, acknowledged that the figure (30 pesos) “It does not bring back good memories”, but that “looking forward, nothing says that this is going to stabilize and the costs continue to rise”.
“What was expected happened, costs have continued to rise. All oil indices, inflation, have continued to rise, and that means rate hikes. These rises occur on a quarterly level and It was time at this time to announce the possible rise, which is an accumulated figure for the last six months”, he added.
However, beyond the panel’s recommendation, It will depend on the Government if it increases or not the rise in the ticket, as could increase the subsidy allocated to transportation to maintain the current price.
“Very possibly, the government decides to keep the rate as it is. Our job is simply to communicate that costs have risen and it is time to increase system resources. The government can choose to raise prices or increase the subsidy”, Montero closed.