Santa Monica to raise Mobility On Demand fares July 1 as ridership rebounds

The City of Santa Monica Department of Transportation will raise fares for its Mobility On Demand (MOD) paratransit service on July 1, 2026, city staff told the Disabilities Commission at its April meeting.

Jessica Sacks, administrative analyst with the department, said the change implements a Council‑authorized phase two of a three‑phase fare schedule adopted in 2019. "On July 1st, we are going to implement the phase two fare change," Sacks said. The move increases the regular fare from $1.50 to $2 and the low‑income fare from $0.75 to $1. Sacks said the city is not planning to roll out the authorized phase three at this time.

The commission was told the change is driven by a sharp rebound in ridership. Sacks presented historical counts showing about 56,000 rides in fiscal 2018‑19, a pandemic low in fiscal 2020‑21, roughly 42,000 rides in fiscal 2024‑25 and an on‑track projection of 55,000–60,000 rides in fiscal 2025‑26. Staff also highlighted a service‑hour expansion implemented in January 2026: MOD now operates 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, with weekend demand notably strong.

Why it matters: the MOD program serves residents 65 and older and adults 18 and over with disabilities. Sacks said the program has about 2,200 active members and that the fare increase is intended to help keep the service fiscally sustainable as demand grows.

Commissioners used the presentation to press staff on service quality and access. Vice Chair Rockfeld asked whether Lyft — the program’s current partner — provides wheelchair‑accessible vehicles (WAVs) and how long riders wait for them. Sacks said Lyft offers WAV and shared‑ride sedan options and estimated wheelchair‑accessible vehicle wait times in prior months of about 25 to 30 minutes.

Commissioner Cosme‑Dodge, who identified herself as a wheelchair user, urged staff to raise vehicle procurement and in‑vehicle support concerns with the provider. "My wheelchair weighs 500 lb... it kills my spine when those vehicles go over the lumps," she said, asking that future vehicle specifications account for riders with heavy wheelchairs. Sacks said the city meets monthly with Lyft and will bring the feedback to provider leadership.

The commission also asked about usage limits and potential impacts of the fare increase. Staff confirmed a 30‑rides‑per‑month cap on members and said relatively few users historically reached that limit; they offered to provide updated pre/post fare‑change analyses. Commissioners asked staff to monitor WAV wait times and cancellations, especially reports that drivers sometimes cancel rides for passengers with service animals. Sacks said an intern is auditing recorded calls from the hybrid AI call center and staff will report findings when available.

Sacks outlined an outreach plan leading up to July 1 that includes mailers and email notifications to members, updates to the city website, and meetings with the Human Services Commission. She reiterated that the policy allowing members to travel with one companion or one personal care attendant at no additional cost will not change.

Next steps: the Department of Transportation will implement the phase‑two fares July 1, communicate changes to members, and monitor ridership and service‑quality metrics to assess the program’s sustainability and any equity or service‑quality impacts.