[Md-sligo] FW: Metro ADA E-News: Metro Board of Directors Moves Forward with FY2011 Fare Adjustments

[Brown, Debbie]

From: Rikki S. Epstein [mailto:repstein at wmata.com]
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 9:20 AM
To: Brown, Debbie
Subject: Metro ADA E-News: Metro Board of Directors Moves Forward with FY2011 Fare Adjustments

Metro Board of Directors Moves Forward with FY2011 Fare Adjustments

New Fares Subject to Final Board Approval on June 24

Metro's Board of Directors provided guidance to Metro staff to begin to work on a number of fare adjustments in the transit agency's FY2011 operating budget, subject to final Board approval on June 24. The fare changes are expected to be enacted system wide on June 27. The new fares will generate $108.7 million to help close a $189 million shortfall and build a sound budget for the new fiscal year.

During the public comment period on the budget, the overwhelming majority of riders said that they preferred fare increases instead of service reductions and no service reductions are planned.

Beginning June 27, Metrorail fares will increase 18 percent, with the peak period boarding charge increasing from $1.65 to $1.95. The maximum peak period Metrorail fare will increase from $4.50 to $5 for customers who pay with SmarTrip(r) and from $4.50 to $5.25 for customers who pay with cash.

A new system of peak-of-the-peak pricing, which will cost Metrorail riders an additional 20 cents for trips that are taken weekdays between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and between 4:30 and 6 p.m., was also green-lighted. The maximum fare during this period for customers who use cash will be $5.45. The surcharge will encourage customers to exercise flexibility when choosing the times they ride the Metrorail system and help alleviate crowding during busy weekday rush hours.

Peak-of-the-peak pricing will be implemented on August 1 to allow Metro staff additional time to make the necessary computerized fare collection changes.

Metrorail pass prices will increase 15 percent. But even with its new cost, a pass can quickly begin saving customers money. For example, if a customer commutes each weekday from Shady Grove to Metro Center Metrorail station, the cost for 10 trips would be $54.50 paying the regular fare with cash. But with a 7-Day Fast Pass, the cost would be only $46.50 and any trips beyond that would be free.

Metro will continue to provide late-night Metrorail service until 3 a.m. on weekends with riders paying peak fare from midnight until closing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Metrobus fares will increase 20 percent, from $1.25 to $1.50 for customers who pay with SmarTrip(r) and from $1.35 to $1.70 for customers who pay with cash. The price of a Metrobus ride remains lower than bus fares in most major Metropolitan areas. New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle each charge $2 or more for a bus ride.

The Metrobus Weekly Pass price will increase from $11 to $15. The weekly pass allows unlimited travel on Metrobus for seven days, and customers begin saving money after taking only 10 trips.

Fare on Metrobus airport routes to Dulles International Airport (Route 5A) and Baltimore Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport (Route B30) will increase from $3.10 to $6.

The MetroAccess base fare will increase from $2.50 to twice the equivalent fixed route bus or rail fare, up to $7. Supplemental fare for service provided beyond the ADA core service area will increase by $1 per zone, up to $5.

In addition to Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess fare changes, the following changes also will take effect June 27:

* The Metrorail-to-Metrobus and Metrobus-to-Metrorail transfer period will decrease from three to two hours;
* Reserved parking fees will increase from $55 to $65. All other parking fees will remain unchanged; and
* The annual fee for renting a bicycle locker at Metrorail stations will increase from $70 to $200. It is the first increase in locker fees since the inception of the program in 1978. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle is only 55 cents a day.

A complete list of the fare changes that were approved today can be found online<http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/pressroom/attachments/2011_budget_proposal_May27_v9.pdf> at www.MetroOpensDoors.com<http://www.MetroOpensDoors.com>

The Board of Directors is expected to vote on the final FY2011 budget at its June 24 meeting.

Note: The new fares for FY2011 will be an increase in fares that were in place prior to the 10-cent surcharge implemented in March.



Rikki S. Epstein
ADA Operations Manager
Office of ADA Programs
Department of Access Services

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
600 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

202-962-1125 (phone)
202-962-2722 (fax)
repstein at wmata.com

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