Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Metro fare increases (7/2012)

WMATA approved some fare hikes this afternoon, effective July 1, 2012. The proposals for switching to flat rates were not approved.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-board-approves-fare-hikes/2012/04/26/gIQAflfPjT_story.html

Highlights:


Base fare during peak times rises from $1.95 to $2.10
Base fare during off-peak rises from $1.60 to $1.70
“Peak of peak” rush hour surcharges are eliminated
Maximum peak fare increases to $5.75, off-peak to $3.50
There is a new $230 28-day unlimited pass available for SmarTrip holders.
The $9 single-day unlimited pass which only works after 9:30am is eliminated. It is replaced with a $14 single-day unlimited pass with no time restriction.
Parking increases $0.25
Base bus fare increases to $1.70 with SmarTrip. The cash surcharge increases to $0.20.

It was pointed out on DCist that the MTA monthly pass with TransitLink card is a far better deal than the Metro 28-day pass, $190.50 for unlimited travel on



Metrorail
Metrobus
Montgomery County RIDE ON
MTA Commuter Bus - Zone 1
MTA Local & Express Buses
MTA Light Rail
MTA Metro Subway
Baltimore Neighborhood Shuttles.


https://mta.maryland.gov/pass-store/commuter-bus-monthly-passtransit-link-card-zone-1

WMATA approved some fare hikes this afternoon, effective July 1, 2012. The proposals for switching to flat rates were not approved.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-board-approves-fare-hikes/2012/04/26/gIQAflfPjT_story.html

Highlights:


Base fare during peak times rises from $1.95 to $2.10
Base fare during off-peak rises from $1.60 to $1.70
“Peak of peak” rush hour surcharges are eliminated
Maximum peak fare increases to $5.75, off-peak to $3.50
There is a new $230 28-day unlimited pass available for SmarTrip holders.
The $9 single-day unlimited pass which only works after 9:30am is eliminated. It is replaced with a $14 single-day unlimited pass with no time restriction.
Parking increases $0.25
Base bus fare increases to $1.70 with SmarTrip. The cash surcharge increases to $0.20.


Good riddance to the peak of the peak!

Note that one fare will not change this time... The $6 fare (cash or SmarTrip) will stay the same for the 5A (IAD) and B30 (BWI) airport routes.

Surcharge for using a paper ticket increases from 25 cents to a dollar per trip -- most visitors use paper tickets of course.

Surcharge for using a paper ticket increases from 25 cents to a dollar per trip -- most visitors use paper tickets of course.

To be clear, the $1 surcharge per trip for using a paper farecard applies to the rail system. With that surcharge and higher fares, visitors would be smart to buy a SmarTrip card if they will be here for more than a couple of days, and planning to use the rail system regularly.

Surcharge for using a paper ticket increases from 25 cents to a dollar per trip -- most visitors use paper tickets of course.

The most popular price increase of all--one that won't affect your regular users.

For those prices, the metro should run 24/7.