Photo by {ryan}

In the coming weeks Metro’s Board of Directors will gather to finalize a proposed set of fare increases that will take effect this summer. But a new budget document to be presented this week hints that the increases may be less than what was originally expected.

According to a presentation to be given by Metro’s Finance and Administration Committee to the board this week, what was once a $119 million budget gap for 2013 has shrunk to $103 million. Metro officials cite savings along with increased ridership projections and the consequent revenue that will come with more people taking trains and buses to get to and fro as a justification for the change.

Under the original set of assumptions, Metro officials proposed a menu of fare increases that could see the cost of just entering the system during peak rise from $1.95 to $2.10 and the maximum cost for a trip jump from $5.00 to $5.75. The proposal would also include scrapping the 20-cent peak-of-the-peak surcharge, replacing the $9.00 one-day rail pass with a $14 all-day alternative, potentially adding a $1 surcharge for use of paper farecards and charging $6 for a paper farecard for outer stations and $4 for inner stations.

With the more optimistic budget forecast, fares will still increase—but not as dramatically in some cases. The peak-of-the-peak surcharge is still likely to go, and peak-period rail fares will still increase 5.7 percent. Paper fare card users won’t have to pay the $4 or $6 just to purchase the card, but will instead have to pay a $1 surcharge. Bus fares will go up by 10 cents, while MetroAccess will remain unchanged. (All of the details are in the presentation below.)

The presentation also includes details on Metro’s online survey on the fare increases. All told, 3,652 people completed the survey, while only 270 attended the six public hearings. On fare increase proposals, 57 percent were in favor of scrapping the peak-of-the-peak surcharges, 79 percent wanted higher parking fees and 79 percent wanted a surcharge on paper fare cards. Over 80 percent of respondents also said that Metro workers should contribute to their pensions, and 69 percent said that the three jurisdictions served by Metro should institute a dedicated revenue in the form of a tax.

Any fare increase proposal will likely be voted on at the end of April and take effect in July.

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