Metro Proposes Increase in Fares, Fees; Rider Rates Would Rise For 2nd Straight Year
Basic subway and bus fares could rise by as much as 15 cents and daily parking fees could increase as much as $2.30 under a proposal made yesterday by the Metro board of directors.</br></br>The plan, which would take effect July 1, would mark the second straight year that Metro has become more expensive. Board members decided yesterday to hold public hearings on the proposed increases.</br></br>Metro officials said they need more money from riders to close a gap of $28 million to $36 million in a $900 million operating budget next year, depending on how much local governments pay toward Metro service. Metro's operating costs are paid by a combination of passenger fares, revenue from advertising and other sources and subsidies from local governments.</br></br>"We're very cognizant that this is the second proposal for fare increases in two years," said Gladys Mack, who represents the District on the Metro board. "It is absolutely essential if we are to continue our reliability and safety. We bring this out of need to make sure we have a balanced budget."</br></br>Metro directors said that the proposal they are sending to the public is the maximum that would be approved and that they ultimately could decide on smaller increases. If the directors opt for the maximum increases, officials estimate that 15,300 of the 638,800 daily rail riders will stop taking Metro and that 11,900 of the 525,900 daily bus riders will stop riding.