Come September, the weekend bus line to Cabrillo National Monument and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery may cease. Other changes to routes will take effect June 14, transit officials said. The changes are the latest in route reductions and fare increases the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) plans to implement because of the ripple effect from state budget cuts. In the wake of California’s financial crisis, the MTS board of directors voted in March to eliminate weekend service to parts of Point Loma, along with additional service reductions in the downtown area. The so-called “Super Loop” bus and shuttle service will also replace Route 86, which serves University City. Route 84 to Cabrillo National Monument and Fort Rosecrans, which frequently serves personnel at Naval Base Point Loma, also faces service reductions. District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer sits on the MTS board of directors. The board is putting off decisions about Route 84 until September, according to Tony Manolatos, communications director for Faulconer. MTS also expects to hike the cost of monthly adult bus passes from $68 to $72, as well as initiating other increases effective July 1. The change will represent the third fare increase in 18 months, MTS spokesman Robb Schupp said. “It’s a continuing saga in which the state is balancing its budget by taking away funding from lots of agencies… this [MTS] being one of them,” Schupp said. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) will hold two public hearings about the fare increases. One is set for Wednesday, April 15 in the North County Transit District Boardroom, 810 Mission Ave. in Oceanside, at 9 a.m. A second meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 17 at SANDAG’s seventh-floor boardroom downtown at 401 B St. SANDAG sets fares for the region, including the North County Transit District. The changes come in response to the state’s elimination of an estimated $14 million in “transit assistance” funds to MTS each year for the next five years. MTS officials hope to close the gap with $4.7 million worth of cuts in services, along with “internal” changes such as selling more advertising on sides of buses. MTS officials expect the fare increase to add about $2.2 million to the MTS operating budget, Schupp said. SANDAG principal planner Dave Schumacher said there aren’t many options for MTS. “It’s never a happy thing to [cut services],” Schumacher said. “These times are frustrating. There’s just no getting around that.” SANDAG could tap into funds allotted for capital improvements to stave fare increases. But that requires a two-thirds vote of the board, Schumacher said. SANDAG has already allocated about $127 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act toward freeway improvements and infrastructure. That money also has strings attached and is expected to stimulate the economy by creating jobs for capital projects like infrastructure. District 1 Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, who sits on both the MTS and SANDAG boards, could not be reached before press time. MTS most recently raised the cost of an adult pass in January from $64 to $68. This new increase to $72 is one of several across-the-board fare hikes. Youth passes would also increase from $34 to $36 and passes for disabled people would jump from $1 to $18. In addition to higher prices, MTS also voted in March to reduce or eliminate service to some areas. MTS proposes eliminating Route 14 service on weekends to all destinations but Hotel Circle Drive. MTS also made cuts to routes 820, 850 and 860 that serve downtown. The line delivering riders from Ocean Beach to downtown — Route 923 — will now stop at the San Diego International Airport, according to the plan. For a complete list of service reductions and changes, visit the MTS website, www.sdmts.com.