SYRACUSE -- Updated March 25th at 10:15pm:

You'll soon pay more to ride the bus, but not as soon as first expected.

The CNY Regional Transportation Authority has adopted the next budget for Centro. The 2011-2012 budget includes fare hikes, and service changes. Riders paying cash in Syracuse will now have to pay $2. Passengers in auburn, oswego, fulton, utica, and rome will all pay 25-cents more.

Those increases were originally proposed to start on April 25th. Instead, they will effect on May 22nd.

Click here for a breakdown of the changes that were approved.

Posted February 18th by Chris McGrath:

For many riders in downtown Syracuse this afternoon -- I was the first person to tell them it may soon be more expensive to ride the bus.  To say the very least -- they weren't happy about it.

"How am I going to afford that? So does that mean I have to walk?" said Centro rider Robin Wright.

Many people who ride the bus say it's a necessity in their day to day lives.

"We take the bus because we don't have enough money to support a car, so it's going to be difficult if they raise the prices," said Centro rider Nicole Smith.

A single trip in most of Syracuse and Onondaga County will see a $0.75 increase -- from $1.25 to $2.00.  Riders I spoke with say that increase is just too much, and will put them in a tough spot.

"I have to do what I have to do to make it," said Wright,"(Whether it's) pick(ing) up cans and bottles to get the extra 75 cent...or panhandle!"

Other riders say they'll just stop riding the bus entirely and find another way to get around town.

Earlier Coverage:

If you ride a Centro bus, you could see a slew of changes in April. Centro plans to charge more and change some routes starting April 25th. It's all in an effort to close a projected $4.8 million dollar deficit.

Under the new proposal unveiled to CNY Central today, a single trip for most of Syracuse/Onondaga County would now cost you $2. It would only cost $1 for seniors or people with disabilities. Discounts would also be offered for multi-ride or unlimited ride passes. Click here for more details on specific pricing.

Centro also wants to change its routes. In Syracuse/Onondaga County, most Saturday schedules would match those on Sunday. Centro also plans to discontinue its 12:30am trips on weekdays to match late night weekend service.

Proposed Specific Route Changes:

Liverpool

- Simplify the current multiple route variations along the Route 57 corridor into two routes. One will operate between Syracuse and Great Northern Mall and will also serve Casual Estates and Soule Road. The other will operate from Syracuse to Liverpool, Fulton and Oswego and will remain on NYS Route 57 between Syracuse and Fulton. The changes will result in improved travel times.

-Bayberry will be served by Centro route 48 Morgan Rd. instead of Centro Route 46

-Discontinue Morgan Road Service to Great Northern Mall

-Discontinue service into Hickory St. neighborhood on Centro's Liverpool-Route 57 route.

Solvay

-Discontinue midday trips on Route 474; change the end of the line on all 74 trips to Bailey St., no longer serving Cogswell Ave., Bacon St., Century Dr., and Terry Rd.

Stolp / Strathmore

-Discontinue Route

-Adjust Route 26 South Avenue to accommodate the lower portion of the Stolp Route

Baldwinsville

-Discontinue some mid-day weekday trips

-Discontinue Baldwinsville Tuesday Shopper bus Route 92

Henry Clay Boulevard

-Discontinue some mid-day weekday trips

Manlius

-Reduce Saturday and Sunday service east of Shoppingtown Mall; level of reduction TBD

A public hearing on the proposed changes for Syracuse/Onondaga County will be held March 9th at 5pm at the OnCenter in Syracuse.

Click here to read about the proposed Centro changes in Utica.

Click here to see the plan for Centro in Rome.

Read more about the proposals in Cayuga Centro service.

If you use Centro in Oswego, click here to read more about the proposed changes.