Metro Approves Record Fare Hike
posted 4:11 pm Thu December 13, 2007 - Washington
The board voted Thursday to raise peak rail fares by 30 to 60 cents, making the base rush-hour fare $1.65. The off-peak base fare will remain $1.35. Bus fares will increase 10 cents, to $1.35, for riders who pay cash. Bus passengers using SmarTrip cards will see no increase. Metro plans to distribute 50,000 SmarTrip cards to low-income riders, waiving the $5 fee.
Parkers in Metro lots will pay an extra 75 cents, to a maximum of $4.75. Fees at parking meters will rise from 25 cents to $1 per hour. Monthly reserved parking will increase $10 to $55. Metro says it will not set aside additional reserved parking spaces despite earlier discussions.
The fare hike goes into effect January 6, 2008. This was the first increase in four years. Metro now plans to increase fares every two years and link the hikes to the rate of inflation.
The fare hike represents a compromise between suburban board members, who want to keep parking and train costs lo, and urban members who wanted to protect low-income bus riders.The increases are meant to raise $109 million to address a projected shortfall in next year's budget.
Latest Comment on Metro Approves Record Fare Hike
KLOGO
7:31 pm on 12/13/07
There definitely needs to be more police presence on the Metro. How often do you see them? Most of the time they are in groups gossiping.
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