Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 5, 2008

Commuters calculate riding Metro costs half as much as driving

Hundreds of commuters have discovered they can cut their travel costs in half by taking Metro instead of driving.

Metro re-launched its online commuter calculator last Thursday on the transit agency’s homepage. Since then, more than 1,800 travel comparisons have been made, averaging a savings of 49 percent or $171 per person per month.

The calculator collects and processes customers' driving compared to transit costs. Visitors to the Web page enter the number of miles driven during a commute, plus parking fees. The calculator adds the federal average vehicle cost per mile for gas, maintenance, depreciation and insurance.

The calculator also adds Metrobus fare, Metrorail fare, parking and driving costs. It assumes Metro fares are at rush-hour rates. Commuters whose schedules allow them to travel during off-peak times would realize even greater savings.

Metro has seen record breaking rail ridership with seven million more people boarding trains in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, which ended in June. Planners credit gas prices, development around Metro stations and traffic congestion for the increase.

Metro officials say the data is anonymous, and the findings are not a scientific survey.

Metro’s online commuter calculator: http://www.wmata.com/riding/cost_calculator.cfm

News release issued at 10:34 am, August 5, 2008.