SEATTLE -- Taking a metro shuttle bus to watch the Seahawks or Mariners play may soon cost fans four times more than what they're been paying.

The federal government has ruled public transit has an unfair advantage over private bus companies for these shuttle services. As a result, public transit must now yield to private buses.

Shuttle rides to Seahawks games, Mariners games, Seafair and other special events are all serviced with special shuttle buses by Metro.

What many people don't realize is that the Seahawks, the Mariners and the special event organizers helped subsidize some or all of these bus routes. As a result passengers have been paying just a fraction of the costs.

But pack your cash come game day, because gone are the days of cheap rides.

"So the federal government, the Federal Transportation Agency, rewrote the rule to get it incredible clear and when it is charter and when it's not a charter," said Gladys Gillis, owner of Starline Luxury Coaches.

Those special shuttle buses are, in fact, charters. So now federal officials say public transit agencies that receive federal funding, including Metro, must allow private bus companies like Starline to take over the routes.

The Seahawks have chosen not to play ball with Starline to subsidize Seahawks shuttles, which means instead of $3, fans will pay $12.50 for a ride from park-and-ride spots to Qwest Field starting Sept. 14.

"We gave Seahawks a bill. They chose not to pay - not only some of it; not to pay all of it. And now here we sit, the bad guys. Because we have to charge the fan the fully allocated cost," Gillis said.

In a statement Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke said, "the bid we received did not address our requirements for a safe, effective and reliable bus plan. "

Obstacles or not, Starline plans to continue providing the bus service. And the obstacles are many.

Unlike Metro buses, Starline can't pick up passengers at park-and-ride lots. Taxpayers paid for the nice lots and the nice bus stops, but Starline has to pick up fans at a nearby bus stop along a busy street. That's because in King County, private companies aren't allowed to use park and rides.

There is a new state law that states private companies can use public park and ride lots for regularly-scheduled service. But special shuttle buses to games and special events fall outside the umbrella of "regularly-scheduled events."

By telling fans to use the park-and-ride lots, Metro claims private companies like Starline are urging sports fans to break the rules of the lots.

Metro has obtained a waiver to continue service for the remainder of the Mariners' season. The Huskies are expected to announced their shuttle company next week.