Photo by Kevin H.

A WMATA committee voted unanimously today to adopt a fiscal year 2015 budget that includes a fare hike for bus and rail riders, a budget that is expected to be approved by the full board this afternoon. Update: The full board approved the budget.

In July, the price of a bus ride will increase from $1.60 to $1.75 for people who use SmarTrip. For people who use cash, the trip will actually become cheaper, falling from $1.80 to $1.75. In an online survey conducted during the budget process, the majority of riders said SmarTrip users should receive a discount on the bus. Metro says that SmarTrip is used for more than 90 percent of bus trips.

Just 25 percent of people who responded to the survey said an increase to $1.75 would cause them to take fewer bus trips.

But that number increased to 41 percent when just low-income riders (people who make less than $34,999 a year) were included.

Rail riders will see a 3 percent increase in fares, which will add about $.10 to a typical trip. Fifty-one percent of respondents to Metro’s survey said this will cause them to decrease their rail use “slightly or significantly.”

Parking will increase by $.10, except in many Prince George’s County garages, where the increase will be $.50.

The maximum fare for MetroAccess riders will decrease from $7 to $6.50. Many MetroAccess users said during the budget process that another increase would cause them to lose independence or skip doctors’ appointments.