Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 12, 2003

Metro’s Budget Committee endorses first fare increase in eight years


Last fare hike was 1995

Metro’s Budget Committee is recommending a 10 cent increase in the base fare for Metrobus and Metrorail, from $1.10 to $1.20, starting the week of June 29. If approved by the Metro Board of Directors at their June 19 meeting, it will mark the first Metro fare hike in eight years.

Metro’s base fare increase of 9 percent is considerably lower than the increases being implemented or proposed at many other transit agencies across the country. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York increased its fares by 33 percent; the San Francisco Municipal Railway implemented a 25 percent increase; the Maryland Transit Administration an 18.5 percent increase; the Allegheny County Port Authority (Pittsburgh) a 14 percent increase; and the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority (San Francisco) a 13.6 percent increase. (See chart attached to news release.)

During a series of nine public hearings on the proposed fare increases, 270 individuals attended the hearings, and 172 (64 percent) testified on both the general fare increase proposal and the MetroAccess proposal.

Thirty-eight percent of speakers who testified on Metrorail peak period fares testified in support of a moderate fare increase and about 25 percent of them argued for more frequent, smaller fare increases, tying the increase to the Consumer Price Index. Forty-one percent who spoke on off-peak fares also supported a moderate fare increase in the off-peak.

Under the proposal endorsed by the Budget Committee, a variety of fares and passes will increase. They include:

Metrorail Fare and Pass Changes

  • Regular base boarding fare will increase from $1.10 to $1.20.
  • The Metrorail maximum regular fare will increase from $3.25 to $3.60.
  • The One-Day Pass will increase from $5 to $6.

Metrobus Fare Changes

  • Regular bus base boarding fare will increase from $1.10 to $1.20.
  • Express bus fare will increase from $2 to $2.50.
  • Metrorail to Metrobus transfer will increase from 25 to 35 cents, which keeps the 85-cent transfer discount the same.
  • Special fares: Fairfax County Routes 2W, 3W-Z, 12C-D-E-L-M-R-S, 14T-W, 18R-S, 20F-W-X-Y, 24T will increase from 50 to 75 cents. Anacostia Routes 94, A2-4-5-6-7-8, M8-9, B2, P1-2, P-6, U-2 and 90 will increase from 60 to 70 cents.

MetroAccess

  • Base boarding fare will increase from $2.20 to $2.40.

Parking Fees

  • Daily parking rates will increase by 75 cents.
  • Monthly reserved permits will be set at $35.
  • 12-hour parking meters will shift from 25 cents for 1 ½ hours of time to 25 cents for one hour of time.

Elderly and Handicapped Fares

  • Metrorail elderly and handicapped fares of half of the regular fare, all day, up to $1.60 will increase to $1.80.
  • Metrobus elderly and handicapped fares will increase from 50 to 60 cents.

Metrorail Pass Changes

  • One-Day Pass will increase from $5 to $6.
  • Seven-Day Pass will increase from $25 to $30.
  • Seven-Day Short Trip Pass will increase from $17.50 to $20 and be valid only for trips of less than $2 during regular fare hours and any trip during reduced fare periods.
  • 28-Day Fast Pass, Weekly Fast Pass and Weekly Short Trip Pass have been eliminated.

Metrobus Pass Changes

  • Regional One Day Pass increases from $2.50 to $3.
  • Weekly Flash Pass increases from $10 to $11.
  • Weekly Senior and Disabled Passes increase from $5 to $6.
  • The 28-Day Flash Pass and 28-Day Express Pass have been eliminated.

Other Passes and Fares

  • The Metrobus and Metrorail Weekly Fast Pass and Weekly Short Trip Passes have been eliminated.
  • 2-Day, 3-Day, and 4-Day passports increase from $12, $18, and $24 to $14, $21, and $28.
  • MARC/VRE Transit Link will increase from $50 to $60.
  • DC Smart Student Passes will increase from $20 to $22.
  • Tokens will increase from $1.10 to $1.20 apiece (must be purchased in packages of 10 or 20).
  • DC Student Farecards will increase from $5.50 to $6 and student tokens from 55 to 60 cents.
  • High Value Bonus of 10 percent for farecard purchases of $20 or larger will be eliminated.
  • Commuter tickets will be eliminated and will not be accepted after December 31, 2003.

Fareincreases at various transit agencies across the country

Transit Authority

Percent Increase Current Base Fare Proposed Base Proposed Service Cuts

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in NYC

33 %

$1.50

$2

None

San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni)

25 %

$1

$1.25

The time between buses on 11 routes will increase by one to four minutes.

Maryland Transit Administration (Baltimore)

18.5 %

$1.35

$1.60

1 % reduction in service

Allegheny County Port Authority (Pittsburgh)

14 %

$1.75

$2

Reduction of 19.5 % of service hours; eliminating Sunday, holiday, and special event service; reduce Saturday service; eliminate several routes

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco

13.6 %

$1.10

$1.25

None
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) 9 % $1.10 $1.20 None
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia 5 % $2

$2.10

 Reduce weekend hours; discontinue several bus lines
Compiled by WMATA Office of Media Relations, June 2003.

News release issued on June 12, 2003.