WASHINGTON — Metro is changing its fares, both in price and how fares are calculated.
The base fare is going down, but depending on when a person travels some commutes could nearly double in cost.
Starting Monday, Metro is rolling out new fairs that the agency says will make "pricing easier to understand and improve the customer experience."
Metro's base fair is dropping from $2.25 to $2.00 to align with bus, weekend, & late-night service rates.
But, Metro is also eliminating peak and off-peak pricing on weekdays before 9:30 p.m. Which means anyone accustomed to lower rates during off-peak hours will be paying more to ride Metro.
For example, an off-peak trip into D.C. from Montgomery County that used to cost around $3.85 - will now be $6.
The maximum fair is also increasing from $6 to $6.50.
Metro also just started a new Low-Income Fare Program which offers a 50% discount to customers enrolled in SNAP benefits.
Just when service seemed to be back on track with new lines completed, new stations open, and ridership starting to return, Metro is facing cuts that could be the beginning of the end for transit in the DMV.
On Thursday, Metro detailed its future financial planning to address structural funding issues that will leave a projected $750 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2025 budget when federal COVID relief funding runs out. Without an increase in funding, Metro would be forced to make drastic cuts.