LISTEN: Metro Fare Hikes and New Operating Hours Now in Effect

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON – Metro rides now cost more, and service hours are different. The changes went into effect Sunday.

Rail rides at rush hour now cost 10 cents more, and off-peak rail rides and bus rides any time now cost 25 cents more. The fare hikes were approved by Metro’s board last March.

Many riders have said they don’t want to pay more for Metro when service is so unreliable. The changes come on the first rush hour morning commute since Friday morning when arcing insulators caused Red Line service to be temporarily suspended between Medical Center and Grosvenor, and between Dupont Circle and Van Ness.

“The fare increases are so modest, I’m not sure that that’s going to have an effect on ridership,” board chair Jack Evans told reporters in May.

Not only have fares gone up, service hours have changed. The system is now open from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Some bus routes are now offering more late night service to accommodate riders.

The new service hours are expected to be in effect for the next two years. Unless the board changes its mind, late-night rail service, including midnight closures Mondays through Thursday and 3 a.m. closures Fridays and Saturdays, will be restored around July of 2019.

During weekday rush hour, Red Line trains between Grosvenor and Silver Spring will run every 4 minutes. Stations that serve more than one line will have trains running every 3 to 4 minutes during rush hour. Yellow Rush+ service has been eliminated.

Changes to bus routes include the elimination of the J5 bus between Twinbrook and Silver Spring.

For a full list of changes, click here wmata.com/changes