In Puerto Rico, the Tren Urbano and public bus network, including the Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA), have been free to ride for two years and seven months. The director of the Autoridad de Transporte Integrado (ATI), Josué Menéndez, stated that the implementation of a new payment system is in its final stages, with testing underway at Tren Urbano stations.
Once the testing is complete, an official start date for paid services will be announced, along with an information campaign to guide users. The governor, Pedro Pierluisi, had suspended payment for public transportation in March 2024 to improve the system and increase the use of collective transportation. When payment resumes, there will be no fare increases: the Tren Urbano will cost $1.50, buses like AMA and Metrobús will cost 75 cents, and intermodal buses will cost $2.
The practice of charging for a single service when transferring between the train and bus will also continue. The free service has not affected the ATI’s finances due to a federal subsidy that has covered the costs. Menéndez did not specify if the testing will be completed before or after 2027.