As the New Year begins, millions of residents who rely on TransMilenio, Bogota’s flagship bus rapid transit system, are preparing for an increase of 350 Colombian pesos (COP) in the cost of a single ride, bringing the base fare to approximately 3,550 COP (88 cents of a dollar).
The Bogota TransMilenio fare rise by 350 COP is part of a proposed adjustment in a draft decree issued by the Bogota Mayor’s Office on Dec. 31, 2025, and has ignited a high-profile political debate between Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan and President Gustavo Petro over responsibility for public transit financing and long-term solutions for urban mobility.
The fare adjustment is driven by a confluence of economic pressures, particularly the 23% increase in the national minimum wage decreed by the national government late last year. According to official estimates presented by the TransMilenio authority, that wage adjustment has significantly raised operational costs—especially labor expenses — putting additional strain on the system’s already precarious finances. If implemented, the fare hike would mark an approximate 10.9% increase compared to the 2025 tariff of 3,200 COP, according to El Pais de Cali.
While TransMilenio officials argue that the adjustment is necessary to ensure the system’s viability and maintain service levels, it arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Bogota’s transit network carries millions of passengers daily, and any increase — however modest — directly affects household budgets, particularly for lower-income commuters, Noticias Caracol reports.
Bogota’s TransMilenio Fare Set to Rise by 350 COP Amid Clash Between Mayor Galan and President Petro
The proposed increase has triggered a public exchange on the social platform X between Bogota’s mayor and the President of Colombia Gustavo Petro. Petro sharply criticized the fare adjustment, warning that raising user fees could reduce demand and exacerbate TransMilenio’s financial deficit.
Petro highlighted the potential for redirecting resources toward electric buses and other innovations that could lower costs for passengers in the long term. “If the decision is to raise the fare, which will only further decrease demand, then it’s not worth it,” the president said on X, underscoring his view that investment, not fare hikes, should be the priority.
In response, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan stressed that Bogota would forgo the fare increase altogether if the national government delivers earlier promised funds in full. Galan noted that the national government’s commitment of 938 billion COP so far falls short of the roughly 1.5 trillion COP he says would be necessary to stabilize the system without raising fares. “If that money comes this year to the city, count on us not raising the TransMilenio fare,” the mayor wrote on his official X account.
What the fare increase means for riders
If enacted, the fare increase would apply to TransMilenio’s core bus rapid transit services, as well as the TransMiZonal and TransMiCable networks that feed into the broader system. While the draft decree is currently open for public comment, it reflects serious concern among city planners about rising operating costs and budget shortfalls that could otherwise jeopardize service quality, according to Agenciapi.co.
El Pais cites city authorities saying that existing benefits — including subsidized fares for older citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income households — will remain in place, as will structures such as free transfers within 125 minutes of tap-in and the TransMiPass monthly pass product. These elements are intended to soften the impact on frequent riders and households dependent on public transportation.
Transit sustainability and urban mobility
The debate over TransMilenio’s fare adjustment comes amid broader concerns about the financial sustainability and future of urban transportation in Bogotá. Long-standing challenges include securing stable funding streams, balancing operational costs with affordable fares, and modernizing fleets to reduce emissions and congestion.
While Metro construction continues as part of the city’s long-term mobility strategy, the ongoing evolution of bus systems such as TransMilenio remains central to everyday life for millions of commuters. Analysts say that political alignment — or lack thereof — between municipal and national governments will be critical to making lasting progress.
For now, Bogota residents face the prospect of paying 350 more pesos per ride starting in 2026, even as the public discourse around that change continues to reverberate in political and civic circles across the city. The pending decree and the negotiations over funding underscore deep questions about urban governance, social equity, and how best to keep a megacity moving in the decades ahead.