Metro bus and rail riders likely will see fares rise slightly on July 1 for the first time in eight years, if the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors accepts the recommendation of its budget committee.

The Metro board is expected to vote on the changes during its June meeting. Local jurisdictions whose representatives make up Metro’s board must review the recommended changes before the Metro board votes.

If approved, the new fees would become effective on July 1, the beginning of the transit authority’s new fiscal year.

The budget committee recommended increasing the boarding charge for both rail and bus from $1.10 to $1.20.

Off-peak Metrorail fares also would increase by 10 cents, and the maximum peak fare would rise by 35 cents.

Metroaccess fares would increase by 20 cents.

Parking rates would be increased more significantly than rider fares under the proposed plan. Daily parking would go from $2.25 to $3, monthly parking from $45 to $65 and reserved monthly parking from $65 to $95.

Along with revising Metro’s fare structure, the budget committee recommended a fiscal 2004 budget that calls for extending Metrorail hours and providing $6 million for escalator and elevator improvements on the rail system.

If approved by the Metro board, late night Metrorail weekend service would be extended an additional hour from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. as an 18-month demonstration project funded by the District of Columbia.

Metrorail also would open an hour earlier — at 7 a.m., instead of 8 a.m. — on Saturdays and Sundays under the plan.

Metro held a series of community meetings throughout the metropolitan area in February and March to seek public comment on Metro service and proposed fare increases.

Last December, Metro General Manager Richard A. White announced that the transit system would face a $48 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2004 without changes in its operation.

At the same time, White announced plans to balance the budget by reducing expenses $24 million, primarily through streamlining management, and by increasing revenue from riders by $24 million.

Copyright 2003, The Common Denominator