ARESEP calls for a public hearing regarding the fares for route 201

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) has called for a virtual public hearing for Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 5:15 p.m., in which the tariff adjustment for route 201 San José-Grecia-Sarchí and vice versa will be discussed. The call was published in La Gaceta No. 195 on Thursday, October 15, 2026, under tariff file ET-098-2026, which processes the request submitted by the company Transportes Unidos de Alajuela Grecia y Naranjo Ltda. The hearing will be held via the Zoom platform.

ARESEP is the competent authority to set tariffs for regulated public services and, in accordance with the public hearing procedure provided for in Law No. 7593, must submit adjustment proposals to citizen participation before resolving. In this case, file ET-098-2026 processes the ordinary tariff setting request for route 201, described as San José-Grecia-Sarchí and vice versa, operated by Transportes Unidos de Alajuela Grecia y Naranjo Ltda.

The company presented two proposed tariff schedules (folio 247) and requests the consolidation of the schedule into a single tariff for both branches, eliminating the San José-Grecia fraction of the San José-Grecia-Sarchí branch. Any additional information regarding route 201 can be consulted in file RA-105.

Two tariff adjustment scenarios

The first scenario would apply while the operational scheme approved in agreement 3.1 of Ordinary Session 06-2019 of February 5, 2019, of the Board of Directors of the Public Transport Council (CTP) remains in effect, until ARESEP grants the endorsement of the concession contract addendum with the new operational conditions:

• San José-Grecia branch (44.35 km): regular tariff from ₡1,380 to ₡1,890 (+36.96%); senior citizen from ₡690 to ₡950 (+37.68%).
• San José-Grecia-Sarchí de Valverde Vega branch (51.39 km): from ₡1,400 to ₡1,890 (+35.00%); senior citizen from ₡1,050 to ₡1,420 (+35.24%).
• San José-Grecia branch of the San José-Grecia-Sarchí service (44.35 km): from ₡1,350 to ₡1,890 (+40.00%); senior citizen from ₡680 to ₡950 (+39.71%).

The second scenario would apply after the granting of the endorsement of the concession contract addendum, according to the new operational conditions established in agreement 3.5 of Ordinary Session 65-2025 of October 2, 2025, of the CTP Board of Directors:

• San José-Grecia branch (44.35 km): from ₡1,380 to ₡1,690 (+22.46%); senior citizen from ₡690 to ₡850 (+23.19%).
• San José-Grecia-Sarchí de Valverde Vega branch (51.39 km): from ₡1,400 to ₡1,690 (+20.71%); senior citizen from ₡1,050 to ₡1,270 (+20.95%).
• San José-Grecia branch of the San José-Grecia-Sarchí service (44.35 km): from ₡1,350 to ₡1,690 (+25.19%); senior citizen from ₡680 to ₡850 (+25.00%).

How to participate in the public hearing

Interested parties may submit a position in favor or against through two channels:

• Orally: register via email at consejero@aresep.go.cr until 4:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing, indicating full name, ID number, notification method, and telephone number, and attaching a copy of both sides of the identity card.
• Via signed writing: submitted at the ARESEP offices from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or sent to the sole official email address consejero@aresep.go.cr until the day of the hearing.

Legal entities may participate through their legal representative, providing a current certification of legal standing. Those who have not registered in advance may do so during the hearing in the questions and answers chat. Persons with hearing or speech disabilities may request a Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO) interpreter via email at consejero@aresep.go.cr seven business days in advance.

Case File Consultation and Advisories

Case file ET-098-2026 can be consulted at the ARESEP facilities from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or downloaded at the electronic address www.aresep.go.cr, “Expedientes” (Case Files) section. The link to participate in the virtual hearing is https://aresep.go.cr/audiencias/et-098-2026.

For advisories and additional information, the User Counselor is available at the email consejero@aresep.go.cr and the toll-free line 8000 273737; in case of connection problems, telephone 4002-9504 after 4:00 p.m. The call was signed by the General Directorate of User Attention, led by Gabriela Prado Rodríguez.

The proposed adjustment directly impacts the pockets of public transport users between San José, Grecia, and Sarchí, with increases that in the highest scenario reach 40% in the regular fare of the San José-Grecia branch. The November 10 hearing is the formal instance in which users, companies, and organizations can oppose or support the proposal before ARESEP resolves the new fare.

Source: La Gaceta, No. 195 of Thursday, October 15, 2026, Decentralized Institutions, pgs. 84-85 (official reference: IN202601132741).