FREE RIDE

Metro Fare Hike in January?

Photo by Gerald Martineau/The Washington PostEARLIER THIS WEEK at a meeting with reporters, Metro General Manager John Catoe, at right, was careful to make the distinction between calendar year and fiscal year. The transit agency's new fiscal year starts July 1. But by the end of the calendar year, Catoe said he intended to introduce a plan that would raise Metro fares.

And now we learn when he sees that hike going into effect: January. As The Post's Lena H. Sun reports:

The size of the increase must still be worked out. Fare increases would be indexed to cost-of-living measures, such as the consumer price index, and would rise at regular intervals rather than by big jumps every few years, the typical pattern in previous years.
The plan would have to be OK'd by Metro's board. D.C. Council member Jim Graham, who sits on Metro's board, tells The Post that the plan will "be subject to very rigorous examination."

» "Catoe Takes Stock as Metro's Woes Add Up" [Free Ride/Express]
» "Higher Fares Might Arrive in January" [WaPo]

Photo by Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post

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COMMENTS (2)

  • Obviously increases aren't ever great news, but scheduled, moderate, consistent increases to fares beats getting everyone upset as Metro tries to cover losses with a huge jump, and then still falls short as the jump is gradually overcome by inflation.

    By AUA , Posted June 22, 2007 9:44 AM

  • Its bad enough that metro cant get thier damn lines together or get thier buses to the stop/stations on time, now they want to charge us more money. This isnt like NY where the metro runs all day and night for the convenience of the passengers on the weekends. They are constantly trying to ripp us off. Its about time we as riders/ consumers stand up to this disgusting transportation system. I am FED UP!!!!!

    By Alex , Posted June 22, 2007 9:49 AM
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