Photo by Kevin H.
We’ve finally got the details on the fare hike agreement reached by Metro’s Board of Directors that we reported earlier. The following fare changes are expected to go into effect on June 27, pending final approval of the 2011 budget on June 24.
Metrorail: The regular peak base fare will go up from $1.65 to $1.95, an 18 percent increase. That’s also five cents more than the board’s original proposal. MORE: We should note that the $1.95 base fare is applicable to SmarTrip users only. Today’s agreement also includes the introduction of increased fares for paper farecard users on Metrorail, similar to how SmarTrip users currently pay a cheaper fare on Metrobus. The base regular peak fare for paper farecards will be $2.20.
The maximum peak fare will increase from $4.50 to $5 (with SmarTrip) or $5.25 (with cash).
An additional peak-of-the-peak surcharge of 20 cents will also be added to all trips taken between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and 4:30 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Peak-of-the-peak pricing won’t be implemented until August 1, however, in order to give Metro staff more time to reprogram fare gates.
The definition of “peak” fares will also be expanded to include late night weekend service.
In order to avoid cutting late night service, trips taken during the period between midnight and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights will be charged regular peak prices.
Metro’s announcement doesn’t specify a new price for off-peak fares, but presuming the same 18 percent increase, that would put the new fare at $1.60. We’re hoping to confirm that figure soon. UPDATE: Confirmed, the minimum off-peak fare will be $1.60. A complete chart detailing all the fare increases can be downloaded here [PDF]. Also note that the base off-peak fare for paper farecard users will be $1.85.
Metrobus: Bus fares will increase from $1.25 to $1.50 (with SmarTrip) or $1.70 (with cash). Weekly Metrobus passes will increase from $11 to $15.
Fares for airport bus routes to Dulles (5A) and BWI (B30) will increase from $3.10 to $6.
MetroAccess: Base fares will go up from the current $2.50 to a fare that is calculated as twice the equivalent fixed route bus or rail fare, up to a maximum of $7. Supplemental charges for additional service areas will also increase by $1 per zone, up to $5.
In addition to all those regular fare changes, the transfer period for Metrorail-to-Metrobus and Metrobus-to-Metrorail trips will decrease from three to two hours, and bicycle locker rentals will go up significantly, from $70 to $200 annually.
Reserved parking fees will increase from $55 to $65, but no other parking fee changes are expected.
Metro estimates these fare increases will generate $108.7 million toward closing an estimated $189 million shortfall.
