Wyn Delano
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) This Sunday, June 25th, Metro will make significant changes to its fares, hours, and schedules in a last-ditch effort to save the financially insolvent system.
Here’s what you need to know:
For Metrorail, most fares will increase by 10-25 cents. A new one-day unlimited rail/bus pass will be available for $14.75, in what seems to be an effort to take advantage of the system’s tourist usage.
The monthly SelectPass will continue to be the best value option for regular rail customers.
Regular Metrobus fares will rise to $2, a 25 cent increase from $1.75 and still among the lowest bus fare nationally.
In response to concerns from riders, Metro will keep its unlimited, seven-day bus pass priced at $17.50 to allow frequent bus riders to avoid the quarter-per-trip increase.
Express bus fares will increase from $4 today to $4.25, and Airport buses (Routes 5A and B30) will increase from $7.00 to $7.50.
MetroAccess fares will continue to be calculated at two times the fastest comparable fixed-route rate, with the maximum charge of $6.50 remaining the same.
Daily parking rates will change, but Metro released no specifics. It would be safe to assume, though, that prices will increase.
In addition to higher fares, schedule changes will affect riders throughout the district, often creating a situation where they are now paying more for less:
After June 25th, weekday rush Trains will depart their endpoints every 8 minutes on each line.
At stations served by more than one line, trains will arrive every 3-4 minutes.
However, the Red line will be an exception with trains arriving every 4 minutes between Grosvenor and Silver Spring.
In addition, Yellow Rush+ will be eliminated. All Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Mt Vernon Sq during weekday rush periods, and between Huntington and Fort Totten at other times.
No changes are being made to off-peak service.
Weekend riders who plan on using the Metro for late-night outings will be pleased with new hours of operation, that will extend Friday and Saturday hours to 1AM.
This extra time, however, is balanced by earlier weekday closings – 11:30 PM Monday through Thursday.
Sunday, trains will stop running at 11PM.
Several dozen bus service changes will be taking effect as well. Bus riders are urged to check with Metro on their website to find out if their usual route is affected.
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