WASHINGTON — Metro riders in the D.C. region can expect fare increases across the board later this year should WMATA’s revised budget proposal be approved by the board.
The revised budget proposal was released Monday following Thursday’s announcement from D.C. officials that the District would offer up more funding to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to help save it from a “death spiral” forcing Metro station closures and the elimination of 50% of the system’s bus routes altogether.
In WMATA’s previous budget for FY2025, a large financial deficit would have shuttered as many as 10 Metro stations and eliminated dozens of bus routes, while reducing service to many others.
The budget put forth Monday keeps the bus system intact but will raise rates for bus and rail riders by 12.5% — meaning bus riders currently paying a flat $2 would start paying $2.25 during the week. Train ride costs vary depending on their length, but riders should expect to pay 12.5% more than they’re paying today — maxing out at $6.75 if you take some of WMATA’s longest routes.
Additionally, there would be an increase of up to 25% on fares for late night and weekend riders with a cap at $2.50 per ride.
This plan seems to save the Metrobus system from the chopping block for the time being while it’s up to local leaders around the DMV to come up with a more permanent solution. WMATA currently operates 135 bus routes in the D.C. area, and the previously proposed budget called for the elimination of 67 routes – 50% of the whole bus system – and another 41 routes would have seen reduced service to the D.C. community.
If this budget is approved by the board as is, riders can expect fare increases to begin on July 1.
In addition to the fare increases, WMATA plans to reduce “peak hours” around the system. Peak hours will be lowered from four hours to two hours. For example, during peak hours the Red Line runs every five minutes. Under this plan, they would run every five minutes for only two hours instead of four.
WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said this change is more about general adjustments to the system to meet current needs rather than a budget issue. The plan would also reduce service to some commuter bus routes on holidays when they aren’t needed as much because fewer people are going to work on those days.
The board will meet Thursday to discuss the new revised budget.
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