Joelle Fredman
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The Metro Board approved its budget at a meeting today, which includes fare hikes and service cuts beginning in July.

Rush hour rail fares will go up 10 cents and off-peak rail and bus rider fees will go up 25 cents.

The rail system will close at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Trains at the end of lines will come every eight minutes instead of six minutes at rush hour.

Metro Board Chair Jack Evans said that higher fares don’t reduce ridership as much as unreliable service does.

Following the meeting Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld spoke about the new budget.

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