Metro Fare Increases Start Today

First phase of adjustments in place

Loudoun County commuters who use the Metro system for some of their journey may be interested to know that Metro’s Board of Directors recently approved a balanced budget for FY2011 that includes a number of steps to maintain Metro’s current service levels, including increasing fares on Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess.

The fare increases will take effect in two phases, the first today, Sunday, June 27 and the second on August 1. Below are the highlights of today's increases:

Metrorail Fare Changes

Metrorail fares will increase by approximately 18 percent. The new regular base boarding fare will be $1.95. The increase in Metrorail pass prices will mirror the fare increase. But even with its new cost, Metro reports that a pass will save customers money.

Metrorail Passes Price
One Day Pass -- $9
Weekly Short Trip Pass -- $30.35*
Weekly Fast Pass -- $45*
SmartStudent Pass -- $30
Transit Link Card (MARC and VRE) -- $92*
D.C. Student 10-trip Farecards -- $9.50
* These pass prices will be adjusted on August 1

Elderly and disabled Metrorail fares will increase to 50 percent of the regular (peak) fares, including any applicable surcharges and differentials for all trips taken.

Metro will continue to provide late-night Metrorail service on weekends, however riders will be charged peak fare from midnight until closing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Metrobus Fare Changes

The new fare on a regular Metrobus will be $1.50 when paid with a SmarTrip® card or $1.70 when paid with cash. The new fare on an express bus will be $3.65 when paid with a SmarTrip® card or $3.85 when paid with cash. Even with the increase in the cost of a Metrobus weekly pass (from $11 to $15), customers begin saving after taking only 10 trips. And the Weekly Bus Pass allows unlimited travel on Metrobus for seven days.

Metrobus Passes Price
Weekly Flash Pass -- $15
Tokens (10 pack) -- $17
D.C. Student Tokens -- $7.50
Weekly Senior Flash Pass -- $7.50
Weekly Disabled Flash Pass -- $7.50

The new fare on Metrobus 5A to Dulles International Airport and Metrobus B30 to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will be $6.

Elderly and disabled Metrobus fares will increase to 50 percent of the boarding charge, including any applicable surcharges and differentials for all trips taken. The boarding charge for elderly and disabled on express buses and the airport shuttles will be $1.80, exclusive of surcharges.

MetroAccess Fare Changes

The MetroAccess base fare will increase from $2.50 to $3, with an additional $2 to $4 supplemental charge for MetroAccess passengers who begin or end their trips more than 3/4 miles from Metro fixed route service, which is the service corridor requirement laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act. The maximum fare for MetroAccess service will be limited to $7.

Other Changes

In addition to the fare changes, several other changes will take place. The transfer window will be reduced from three to two hours. This applies to bus-to-bus, rail-to-bus and bus-to-rail transfers. For the first time in 32 years, the annual bike locker fee will increase. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle will be only $200 per year (55 cents a day). And the reserved monthly parking fee will be $65.

More information is online at www.wmata.com.