Thousands of Twin Cities residents have escaped soaring gas prices by crowding onto buses and trains. But the cost of riding may soon catch up with them.

The Metropolitan Council's transportation committee will be asked Monday to set up a series of public hearings into possible fare increases for the region's buses and light rail, in response to the surging costs of fuel. How much they might go up could become clear in June, according to spokeswoman Bonnie Kollodge.

The regional agency sets fares for Metro Transit and several suburban transit operations.

The rising fuel prices are partly responsible for a surge in riders. Metro Transit ridership for January through March was up 7.2 percent over the same period last year, and 16.4 percent more people rode the Hiawatha light rail line than in the first quarter of last year. The 19.2 million Metro Transit riders were the most since 1984.

Other transit systems across the country have reported similar recent spikes in ridership.

Some cities with long-established public transit systems, like New York and Boston, have seen increases in ridership of 5 percent or more so far this year. But the biggest surges -- of 10 to 15 percent or more over last year -- are occurring in many metropolitan areas in the South and West where the driving culture is strongest and bus and rail lines are more limited.

Metro Transit riders currently pay from $1.50 to $2.75, depending on the time and route, although seniors and children pay less. Fares were last raised in 2005.

Julie Johanson, assistant general manager for Metro Transit, said a fare increase is something "we would like not to do," but is probably necessary in order to avoid service cuts. Johanson said Metro Transit is paying $3.27 a gallon -- 63 cents more per gallon than last year. That means the transit company will spend $4.5 million more on fuel this year than in 2007.

"I think the Met Council will try to avoid service cuts," Johanson said. "The last thing we want to do is take away service at a time when people are getting on the bus."

Len Simich, CEO of Southwest Transit, said the company may have to shutter some local routes and scale back night and weekend service to make ends meet.

Plymouth Metrolink also saw a ridership increase of 7 percent last year over 2006 figures, its steepest increase ever.

The high fuel prices are hitting many travelers hard. Delta, United and American airlines raised fuel surcharges on fares by $20 round trip Thursday, bringing the total surcharge on many flights to $130 per round trip. In many cases, that's more than the basic ticket price.

Amtrak, meanwhile, has raised some fares this year 3 percent or less. It is less burdened by fuel cost increases because fuel represents only 10 percent of its costs, said Marc Magliari, media relations manager for the intercity rail system's Chicago office. Labor is its greatest expense.

The train system has seen five straight years of record ridership, and a 10.6 percent ridership increase from October through April. Ridership on the Chicago-to-Seattle Empire Builder, which runs through the Twin Cities, was up 8.2 percent during that period.

Magliari said Amtrak's primary competition is the automobile, not the airlines.

The New York Times contributed to this report.

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