SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors Friday gave final approval to fare hikes for riders of trolleys and buses.

The new rate structure, which goes into effect July 1 for the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District, is aimed at helping the MTS close an estimated $11 million major budget deficit.

Regional monthly passes will go from $68 per month to $72 per month, said Dan Levy, SANDAG's senior transit planner. Monthly premium express passes for riders on the Interstate 15 corridor will increase by $10 to $100 a month, he said.

Discounted monthly passes for seniors and the disabled will remain at 25 percent off and 50 percent off for youth, so both prices will go up accordingly, Levy said.

He said the MTS will also be allowed to eliminate a half-price downtown trolley fare, so riders who only travel between points in the center city area will have to pay the full $2.50.

The great majority of downtown riders buy $5 day passes, so only a few will be affected, he said.

El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, one of just a few board members to vote against the fares, said his retail sales experience told him to increase ridership by slashing prices.

His theory of transit is to "move as many people as inexpensively as possible," Lewis said.

"What's unfortunate is the state eliminated all transit subsidies," Levy said. "That's an $11 million impact on MTS."

The new fares will make up $2.2 million, according to Levy. He said the agency, which is required by law to operate with a balanced budget, cut $4 million in expenses and made $4.7 million in service cuts.

"They've tried to share the pain, so to speak," Levy said.

Fares for four short shuttle bus lines, which had been $1, will be raised to the standard $2.25. Levy said MTS had the choice to either increase the price or eliminate the routes.