LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A half-price Metro discount fare program will be extended through the end of the year, the transit agency announced Thursday.

The promotion began in January as an effort by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to assist riders impacted by pandemic- related economic losses.

Metro one-day passes, which typically cost $7, are discounted to $3.50. Weekly passes are $12.50 instead of $25, and 30-day passes are $50 instead of $100.

"We fully recognize that our Metro riders continue to require financial assistance as they try to recover from the effects of this lingering pandemic," Ara Najarian, the board chair of Metro and a Glendale City Council member, said in a statement. "With gas prices just now retreating from all- time highs, it remains imperative that we offer everyone a highly affordable transit alternative as we continue to explore new ways to save our customers fare money over the long term."

More riders are purchasing passes since the fares were discounted. Nearly half of riders who have TAP cards are using passes, up from 25 percent of riders in 2019, according to the transit agency.

According to Metro, the agency provided the discounts to "promote affordability and incentivize customers to purchase unlimited-use passes." The agency plans to base its future fare adjustments on information gathered during this discount promotion period. Future pricing will "include break-even points that are more in line with industry standards and are financially sustainable for current and future Metro transit operations," according to the agency.

"We remain focused on our goal to make Metro the first choice for transportation in and around Los Angeles, which means we need to keep it accessible and remove barriers to entry, while taking steps to better understand the needs of our customers," Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins said in a statement. "The extension of the discount pass program allows us to continue to grow our ridership by offering equitable access, while also supporting development of our strategies to deliver public transit services that exceed our customers' expectations."

Visit www.metro.net/fares for more information on Metro fares.