Non-residents will pay more for tickets, but residents also pay with their municipal income taxes.

TALLINN — Sorry suburban commuters! While residents will pay the same rate, visitors using the Tallinn public transportation system will pay more starting from January 2010.

Tallinn’s municipal government proposed a regulation Wednesday increasing public transportation prices for city’s non-residents to raise additional money while avoiding extra costs for residents coping with the economic crisis.

The price of a monthly pass will stay at 290 krooni (€18) for residents but go up to 365 krooni (€23.33) for non-residents. The quarterly pass will also increase 20 percent. Students living outside Tallinn will loose their discount monthly pass of 115 krooni (€7.30) and have to pay the full amount.

Residents aren’t totally off the hook, though. One hour tickets will be raised by one kroon to 16 krooni (€1.02) from ticket vendors and 22 krooni (€1.40) from bus drivers.

The state does not offer financial support for municipal transportation routes within city limits and only 30 percent for routes leaving city limits. All expenses of public transport in Tallinn have to be covered from city’s budget and ticket sales revenues.

The Tallinn Transportation Authority did not respond to requests for comment on the price hike.