SEATTLE – The cost to ride a Metro Transit bus is going to up a quarter – twice.

The King County Council on Monday approved not one, but two 25 cent fare increases, in part to pay for a $90 million shortfall due lower sales tax revenue and the cost of fuel.

The first increase will go into effect on February 1, 2009. The second happens on January 1, 2010.

Even with that, the council says that won’t close the budget hole completely.

"In talking to citizens about our budget crisis, people have said they value keeping and expanding their existing service, over paying a little more in transit fares," said Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the Council's annual budget committee.

Here is a look at how the fare increases break down:

The youth fare will stay at 75 cents.

Both fare increases combined are expected to generate $22 million in annual revenue.

The second fare increase might have happened sooner, but the council says it has found a way to cut costs and save $43.7 million. Some of these include cutting back on non-necessary maintenance as well as locking in diesel prices that are much cheaper now than in the summer.

Metro says since voters approved Initiative 695 which repealed the motor vehicle excise tax, most of its funding comes from local sales tax. With the economy spiraling downward and consumers saving their money, that tax revenue has decreased dramatically.