The Office for the Reorganization of Transit (OPRET) has authorized bus transport fare increases as from Thursday, 19 April. Long bus trips within the capital will now cost RD$20 and shorter runs RD$15. OPRET did not announce a fare increase for “conchos” or multi-passenger paying taxis, but this is expected to follow shortly. Conchos primarily use LPG, which has also seen gradual increases.
The increases follow 10 consecutive weeks of gasoline price rises. Regular gasoline now costs RD$139.50 and premium gasoline sells for RD$153.10. Diesel sells for RD$105.
In an editorial, Listin Diario said that “the government has given in to the transport unions’ blackmail, preferring to please a small group of millionaires that knows how to hide its wealth while overburdening the middle class and the poor with more taxes, more fare increases, and an extreme indifference to their basic needs.”
In addition to authorizing the increase, the OPRET office also announced the creation of the Single Transport Authority (ANTRAT) office that brings together all government entities dealing with transportation under one umbrella.