A 90-cent rate hike on Carbon County’s shared ride service that was supposed to go into effect last month has been delayed until July 1.

On Thursday, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that the county and LANTA, the company that operates the Carbon County Community Transit system, has delayed the proposed rate increase as a result of the pandemic. The date for the increase to take effect was April 27.

Lukasevich said that county officials met with county Area Agency on Aging staff to see if there was anything that could be done to help people who utilize the shared ride by finding a way to mitigate the increase. Senior citizens, who are already on fixed incomes, typically use the shared ride program for doctor’s appointments, getting to senior centers and going to grocery stores or pharmacies.

Lukasevich said that further discussions will take place in the near future.

In March, several senior citizens spoke out against the fare increase because the additional cost could mean the difference of going places or being stuck in their home without transportation.

LANTA has proposed raising the one-way base fare for seniors, which it calls a “copay,” to $4.05 from $3.15. Some qualify for other sponsorships to lower the cost, while others must pay the whole fee. The base fare to use the service is $27 one-way, but senior citizens and people with disabilities can ride for much less if they don’t have access to a fixed-route bus such as CCCT’s Lynx service.

One-third of riders ride for free through the state’s medical assistance program.

During that meeting, Owen O’Neil, LANTA’s executive director, said this was only the second increase over the past 12 years.