New record price increases in diesel, regular and premium gasolines have forced bus, publico and taxi operators to raise their fares. The OTTT (Office for Transportation) accepted fare increases of RD$5 for routes that cover 50 or more kilometers, and of RD$1 for the city routes. Premium fuel now costs RD$116.90 per gallon, regular RD$106.70 and diesel RD$73.50. Antonio Reynoso, the head of the OTTT, warned that vehicles that use LPG (propane gas) are not allowed to increase their fares, since this fuel is heavily subsidized by the government.
In the last two weeks since the elections, the Ministry of Industry & Commerce has elevated the price of fuels per gallon by never-before-seen increments of more than RD$15 for gasoline and RD$8.50 for diesel. For example, this weekend premium gasoline went up by RD$7.20, while the week before its price jumped RD$9.30. According to Reynoso, the new fares for interurban and local transport were arrived at by a consensus of the larger transport syndicates. The short-distance ?conchos? or ?publicos? will now cost RD$10. The interurban and suburban routes that cover 20 kilometers or less will be increased by RD$2, and a RD$3 fare hike was approved for the routes between 20 and 50 kilometers. Since January of this year, fuel has increased by a total of RD$41.75 for premium and RD$38.81 for regular. In the same timeframe diesel fuel has seen its price expand 150%.