UPDATE: The Metro Board has put the proposed fare hikes on hold, saying they would like more details about the proposals before they would approve public hearings. They voted to hold a special informational committee meeting on Sept. 27.
More than a year ago, then interim Metro Chief Dan Tangherlini began uttering those two little words no transit rider likes to hear: fare increase. At the time though, our favorite transit official was reassuring us that we wouldn’t be likely to see an increase until 2008. Turns out Dan was right on the money. Current General Manager John Catoe went before the Metro Board of Directors today to recommend a moderate system-wide fare increase, going into effect in January 2008.
According to Catoe’s proposal, the base fare would go up $0.45 on Metrorail, raising the minimum to fare to $1.80 (five cents more than was originally reported in the Washington Post this morning) and the maximum to $4.50. At $1.50, Metrobus riders would pay $0.25 more per ride, and parking rates would increase by a buck a day. The Metro Board, consisting of appointed members from each jurisdiction Metro serves, will hold public hearings on the proposal, and make a final decision on any increase. There is no schedule for either the hearings or a final decision, but Catoe warned that the later a fare increase goes into effect, the higher it will have to be.
Now, no one enjoys paying more for something tomorrow than they do today. Especially when it comes to a daily necessity, even a moderate increase adds up fast, especially for lower income folks. However, no one can accuse Metro of springing this out of the blue. The increase would be the first in four years for Metro, and like we said, official have been warning that the time for a price hike was growing near. Back in December, Metro officials unveiled a set of fare increases that was much larger and more extensive, complete with complicated rules and incentives for who would be charged what fare when. When that proposal was eventually (and rightfully) rejected, Catoe warned that a fare increase was still imminent.
Photo by Samer Farha
