first public transport fare increases for two years.

But some prices will decrease as the Public Transportation Board "juggles'' with bus fares prices around Bermuda.

And Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess has stressed that regular bus users will still be travelling for less than a dollar per journey.

Government tabled the Government Omnibus (Fares) Amendment Regulations 1994 and the Marine Board (Ferry Services Fares) Amendment Regulations 1994 on Friday in the House of Assembly.

The changes in the Bills are expected to raise more than $100,000 in revenue over the next year.

They are due to come into effect on April 1 to take advantage of the beginning of the tourist season on the Island.

One welcome change will be the lowered cost of a short journey, up to three "zones''. In future, instead of having to find $3 in exact change, bus users will only have to find $2.50.

However for longer journeys, up to 14 zones, passengers will have to pay $4, a 30 percent increase in the fare.

Books of 15 tickets will increase from $10 to $13 for trips within three zones and from $18 to $22 for trips up to 14 zones.

Monthly pass holders will have to pay an extra 15 percent for their passes, which will cost $37. Quarterly passes will cost $105.

Three-day transportation passes for all zones will be raised from $17.50 to $20 and seven day passes form $27.50 to $32.50.

Student and child tickets and passes will also increase on April 1, if the Bill is passed.

Cash payments for children aged three to 12 years for all zones will rise from 65 cents to a dollar. Student passes will rise two dollars, to $17, for a month and three dollars to $38 for a term.

Ferry journeys on the Somerset route, highly popular with visitors to the Island, will cost $3.50, a 50-cent rise.

Journeys on the Paget and Warwick ferries will rise from $1.50 to $2. Packets and books of tickets will also increase.

Discounts will be available to authorised agents buying 10 or more passes on the buses and 200 or more tokens on the buses and ferries. This will normally apply to hoteliers or tour guides.

In the Public Transportation Department's budget estimates for 1993-94 there is an increase in the estimated revenue raised in "fares and other revenues'' of $113,000, compared to 1992-93.

The Minister said: "The Government has to raise taxes to keep the Country going and fares were not increased during the last Budget.

"Not all of them have been raised, some of them have been juggled and it will be cheaper on some journeys.

"For people who regularly use the buses they will still be able to ride for less than a dollar.'' The Hon. Maxwell Burgess.