Ozone warning means MATA riders get another fare break Friday | News

(WMC-TV) – MATA riders will get discounted fares again Friday, thanks to unhealthy air that refuses to float away from the Mid-South.

Forecasters have declared a code orange alert because they predict that the air quality will be especially poor again Friday. It’s the same warning they issued for Thursday.

To help improve air quality and encourage the use of public transportation, MATA is offering 25 cent fares. Bus fares are typically $1.75.

“A code orange alert means the amount of ground-level ozone in our air has reached unhealthy levels,” said a MATA official in a written release. “Any active children or adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.”

While fares will be discounted for everyone Friday, people with disabilities and those 65 and older will be able to ride buses and trolley for free with a valid MATA ID.

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