Metro officials say the increase is needed because of rising energy costs, expanded service and growing maintenance needs.
"Metro is facing extreme economic pressures," Catoe said. "I have to say to you Thursday that a fare increase is not an option, it is a necessity."
Under Catoe's proposal, the minimum Metrorail fare would be $1.75, up from the current $1.35. Rush-hour fares would start at $1.80. The maximum rush-hour fare would increase to $4.50, up from $3.90. Metrorail fares vary depending on trip length.
Bus riders would pay a flat fee of $1.50, up from $1.25. Metro also is proposing to increase daily parking rates by $1.
Catoe has said he would like a fare increase to go into effect as early as January. Board members, however, put the proposed fare hike on hold Thursday, saying they needed more details before they could approve public hearings on the issue. A special meeting to get more information from Catoe was scheduled for Sept. 27.
Metro carries about 1.2 million bus and subway passengers on an average weekday. Revenue from passengers has increased in recent years as the system has set ridership records, but the additional money has not offset rising costs.
Metro officials predict a $173 million shortfall in the estimated $1.3 billion operating budget for the fiscal year that begins next July.
Dana Kauffman, a member of Metro's board and a Fairfax County, Va., supervisor, has said he anticipates that riders will understand that the system needs more funds to prevent future service delays.
"I trust the common sense of our riders," Kauffman said. "The reason for almost all of the disruptions has been because of (a lack of) investment, not bad management."
Problems with railcars and electrical equipment led to a series of delays over the summer.
Power problems hobbled train service in the Washington area for two consecutive nights last month. Officials blamed the shutdownson aging infrastructure and a possible lightning strike. Metro is still investigating exactly what caused the power problems.
Supposedly, these fare increases are to cover the cover things like rising energy costs and expanded service--but I will have to think carefully about paying more for what is becoming less and less.
And these are not trivial increases--they are very substantial increases. Why should we believe we will get our money's worth?
Part of the problem is the basic cost structure for Metro. Check the numbers--Metro workers are overpaid compared to the compexlity and difficulty of their jobs. They also have an overly generous pension fund--one that the worker's union refuses to let outside reviewers audit.
I don't think Metro will get serious about doing better until the riders finally get fed up and go to other options--even if that means getting stuck in traffice. As it is, it would cost me less time and less money just to drive to work. I do Metro because it seems the right thing to do and to avoid the headache of traffice. But now Metro is a headache--one that will cost a lot more. Why would I pay for a bigger headache?
Show us things will improve first--then start talking about increasing fares.
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