Like many other goods and services, the cost of riding a bus within Volusia County is going up.

The new year brings with it increases in the fares for Votran buses. On Jan. 1, 2025, the charge for boarding a Votran bus will be $2, one way, for most passengers. Those qualifying for reduced fares, such seniors and the disabled, will be $1 per ride. Those numbers are the same for those who use VoRide, a taxi-like service created by Votran late in 2023, for short-distance trips. Vo-RIde charges $1 per mile over the 5-mile mark, with a cap of 10 miles.

Votran and VoRide trips to the DeBary or DeLand SunRail stations will remain free of charge.

The charges for bus passes will also rise. 

In addition, the fare for Votran Gold, the paratransit service offered to seniors, will increase to $4. Votran Gold is a call-ahead and reserved-space transit option for seniors and disabled persons needing a ride to medical appointments or other private business. 

The fare hikes are in response to Votran’s higher operating costs.

Votran has a 2024-25 operating budget of $37.3 million. Fares account for 8 percent of Votran’s revenues, or almost $3 million.