Metro Board of Directors moves forward with FY2011 fare adjustments

[79MetroExtraMD]

Source
http://wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4470

Metro Board of Directors moves forward with FY2011 fare adjustments  New fares subject to final Board approval on June 24  Metro's Board of Directors provided guidance to Metro staff today, May 27, to begin to work on a number of fare adjustments in the transit agency's FY2011 operating budget, subject to final Board approval on June 24. The fare changes are expected to be enacted system wide on June 27. The new fares will generate $108.7 million to help close a $189 million shortfall and build a sound budget for the new fiscal year.

During the public comment period on the budget, the overwhelming majority of riders said that they preferred fare increases instead of service reductions and no service reductions are planned.

Beginning June 27, Metrorail fares will increase 18 percent, with the peak period boarding charge increasing from $1.65 to $1.95. The maximum peak period Metrorail fare will increase from $4.50 to $5 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $4.50 to $5.25 for customers who pay with cash.

A new system of peak-of-the-peak pricing, which will cost Metrorail riders an additional 20 cents for trips that are taken weekdays between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and between 4:30 and 6 p.m., was also green-lighted. The maximum fare during this period for customers who use cash will be $5.45. The surcharge will encourage customers to exercise flexibility when choosing the times they ride the Metrorail system and help alleviate crowding during busy weekday rush hours.

Peak-of-the-peak pricing will be implemented on August 1 to allow Metro staff additional time to make the necessary computerized fare collection changes.

Metrorail pass prices will increase 15 percent. But even with its new cost, a pass can quickly begin saving customers money. For example, if a customer commutes each weekday from Shady Grove to Metro Center Metrorail station, the cost for 10 trips would be $54.50 paying the regular fare with cash. But with a 7-Day Fast Pass, the cost would be only $46.50 and any trips beyond that would be free.

Metro will continue to provide late-night Metrorail service until 3 a.m. on weekends with riders paying peak fare from midnight until closing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Metrobus fares will increase 20 percent, from $1.25 to $1.50 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $1.35 to $1.70 for customers who pay with cash. The price of a Metrobus ride remains lower than bus fares in most major Metropolitan areas. New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle each charge $2 or more for a bus ride.

The Metrobus Weekly Pass price will increase from $11 to $15. The weekly pass allows unlimited travel on Metrobus for seven days, and customers begin saving money after taking only 10 trips.

Fare on Metrobus airport routes to Dulles International Airport (Route 5A) and Baltimore Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport (Route B30) will increase from $3.10 to $6.

The MetroAccess base fare will increase from $2.50 to twice the equivalent fixed route bus or rail fare, up to $7. Supplemental fare for service provided beyond the ADA core service area will increase by $1 per zone, up to $5.

In addition to Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess fare changes, the following changes also will take effect June 27:
• The Metrorail-to-Metrobus and Metrobus-to-Metrorail transfer period will decrease from three to two hours;
• Reserved parking fees will increase from $55 to $65. All other parking fees will remain unchanged; and
• The annual fee for renting a bicycle locker at Metrorail stations will increase from $70 to $200. It is the first increase in locker fees since the inception of the program in 1978. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle is only 55 cents a day.

A complete list of the fare changes that were approved today can be found online.

The Board of Directors is expected to vote on the final FY2011 budget at its June 24 meeting.

Note: The new fares for FY2011 will be an increase in fares that were in place prior to the 10-cent surcharge implemented in March.

News release issued at 6:54 pm, May 27, 2010.

[Scrabbleship]

It sounds more and more like Metro is cutting off their nose to spite Jim Graham's face. That Shady Grove-Medical Center example is horrible as the current peak hour one-way is $3.30. Granted that few people use cash anymore, but that is far more than an "18% hike". Watch Metro's ridership, especially among the private sector who can't alter their hours, plunge after all these hikes. Notice how Metro is the only agency who is doing obscene fare hikes and the only agency who is further complicating their fare structure. This is only calling for a rider revolt and a "Charlie on the MTA" moment.

I'd better start looking for jobs in Philly or Boston since SEPTA and MBTA see their riders as customers and not ATM machines. What did DC do to get a transit agency that costs so much and gives so little in return. Why us?

[WMATAGMOAGH]

How quickly we forget some of the SEPTA fare proposals that resulted from Harrisburg threatening to essentially cut off all SEPTA funding or not increasing it for years on end.  OK, so they weren't enacted, but WMATA lacks dedicated funding.  SEPTA has turned around partially as a result of getting such funding.  Coincidence?  I think not.  And I'm sure if you rode SEPTA or MBTA on a regular basis, you would find something to whine about.  I don't know many people (non-railfans) who like SEPTA that much and use it on a regular basis.

[btconet]

I usually don't address tangents in a thread, but I do have to wholeheartedly agree with Jason regarding the need for weekend service on the Commuter Rail lines. 

Ever caught the 4:00pm Regional departure out of DC on Amtrak?  I have: the line went ALL THE WAY back through the concourse to the Barnes and Noble.  I have witnesses on this board.

Sadly, our area is too car oriented, and it shows in some posts refuting the need for weekend commuter rail service.  Were we truly a "smart growth" region as we like to advertise, places like Odenton would be more built around the station with a TOD type of concept.  Instead, what we have is a remotely connected station with little walk-up potential. 

Amtrak may be a crowded option for those boarding at Baltimore and BWI, but there are enough intermediate spots that don't have this option.  Looking elsewhere in the country, there are a number of commuter rail operations that operate on weekends that don't have anywhere near the population in the corridor.

I think in this case, if it were built, people would quickly flock to it.

[Tritransit Area]

I'd better start looking for jobs in Philly or Boston since SEPTA and MBTA see their riders as customers and not ATM machines. What did DC do to get a transit agency that costs so much and gives so little in return. Why us?

No jobs in Philly as unemployment is high:(.  Besides, SEPTA ain't cheap either.  Two dollar base fare (tokens for 1.60 each), plus 1 dollar transfers that can be used ONCE for a connecting route, not to return to your point of origin, and the buses have zone fare!  But at least we have commuter rail service on weekends, lol.

Why is MBTA so glorious again?

Anyway, fares must increase from time to time, but it's too bad to see the moral and opinion of the DC Metro system drop so much so quickly.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I usually don't address tangents in a thread, but I do have to wholeheartedly agree with Jason regarding the need for weekend service on the Commuter Rail lines. 

Ever caught the 4:00pm Regional departure out of DC on Amtrak?  I have: the line went ALL THE WAY back through the concourse to the Barnes and Noble.  I have witnesses on this board.

Sadly, our area is too car oriented, and it shows in some posts refuting the need for weekend commuter rail service.  Were we truly a "smart growth" region as we like to advertise, places like Odenton would be more built around the station with a TOD type of concept.  Instead, what we have is a remotely connected station with little walk-up potential. 

Amtrak may be a crowded option for those boarding at Baltimore and BWI, but there are enough intermediate spots that don't have this option.  Looking elsewhere in the country, there are a number of commuter rail operations that operate on weekends that don't have anywhere near the population in the corridor.

I think in this case, if it were built, people would quickly flock to it.

Let me repeat my opinion since I feel it is being misconstrued: I think a Penn Line weekend service might be viable between Baltimore and DC.  I don't see the other MARC lines being as viable, there might be some potential with VRE but again, there is no money there.  I'd start with the Penn Line, if anywhere, but in light of current finances, I don't see it happening soon.  Am I correct in thinking that before things got tight, the MTA was planning to start such a service?

Adam, when you've seen the line for that 4 PM Regional, any sense as to how many of those passengers are BWI or BAL bound?

[79MetroExtraMD]

I usually don't address tangents in a thread, but I do have to wholeheartedly agree with Jason regarding the need for weekend service on the Commuter Rail lines. 

Ever caught the 4:00pm Regional departure out of DC on Amtrak?  I have: the line went ALL THE WAY back through the concourse to the Barnes and Noble.  I have witnesses on this board.

Sadly, our area is too car oriented, and it shows in some posts refuting the need for weekend commuter rail service.  Were we truly a "smart growth" region as we like to advertise, places like Odenton would be more built around the station with a TOD type of concept.  Instead, what we have is a remotely connected station with little walk-up potential. 

Amtrak may be a crowded option for those boarding at Baltimore and BWI, but there are enough intermediate spots that don't have this option.  Looking elsewhere in the country, there are a number of commuter rail operations that operate on weekends that don't have anywhere near the population in the corridor.

I think in this case, if it were built, people would quickly flock to it.

Let me repeat my opinion since I feel it is being misconstrued: I think a Penn Line weekend service might be viable between Baltimore and DC.  I don't see the other MARC lines being as viable, there might be some potential with VRE but again, there is no money there.  I'd start with the Penn Line, if anywhere, but in light of current finances, I don't see it happening soon.  Am I correct in thinking that before things got tight, the MTA was planning to start such a service?

Adam, when you've seen the line for that 4 PM Regional, any sense as to how many of those passengers are BWI or BAL bound?

There were plans to introduce weekend service as a part of the MARC Growth & Investment Plan in relation to all the BRAC doings, but I don't see this happening anytime soon. There probably would have to be some contractual changes and other operational changes (more red tape) in order to allow the service, but as it is, there aren't really that many commuters that traveling on the weekend and the ones I've seen having monthly and weekly tickets that can be used on select Regional trains.

[Scrabbleship]

I usually don't address tangents in a thread, but I do have to wholeheartedly agree with Jason regarding the need for weekend service on the Commuter Rail lines. 

Ever caught the 4:00pm Regional departure out of DC on Amtrak?  I have: the line went ALL THE WAY back through the concourse to the Barnes and Noble.  I have witnesses on this board.

Sadly, our area is too car oriented, and it shows in some posts refuting the need for weekend commuter rail service.  Were we truly a "smart growth" region as we like to advertise, places like Odenton would be more built around the station with a TOD type of concept.  Instead, what we have is a remotely connected station with little walk-up potential. 

Amtrak may be a crowded option for those boarding at Baltimore and BWI, but there are enough intermediate spots that don't have this option.  Looking elsewhere in the country, there are a number of commuter rail operations that operate on weekends that don't have anywhere near the population in the corridor.

I think in this case, if it were built, people would quickly flock to it.

Let me repeat my opinion since I feel it is being misconstrued: I think a Penn Line weekend service might be viable between Baltimore and DC.  I don't see the other MARC lines being as viable, there might be some potential with VRE but again, there is no money there.  I'd start with the Penn Line, if anywhere, but in light of current finances, I don't see it happening soon.  Am I correct in thinking that before things got tight, the MTA was planning to start such a service?

Adam, when you've seen the line for that 4 PM Regional, any sense as to how many of those passengers are BWI or BAL bound?

I've taken the Saturday 8:20 from WAS-BWI a couple times to make flights in the 9:30-10:00 timeframe at BWI (the B30 wouldn't be an option for those times) and across the platform there were a good crowd of people without luggage. I think they're well patronized as it is.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Why would you take an 8:20 train for a flight in the 9:30-10am timeframe. It always helps to leave as early as possible. Take the first thing smoking.

[Scrabbleship]

Why would you take an 8:20 train for a flight in the 9:30-10am timeframe. It always helps to leave as early as possible. Take the first thing smoking.

Because Metro open until 7:00 and the earliest Amtrak I could get were those times. Come to think of it, both were closer to 10:00. I also pack quite light.

The alternative (last train of the night to Union and try to sleep in Union for 3 hours) wasn't all that appealing, IMO.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I usually don't address tangents in a thread, but I do have to wholeheartedly agree with Jason regarding the need for weekend service on the Commuter Rail lines. 

Ever caught the 4:00pm Regional departure out of DC on Amtrak?  I have: the line went ALL THE WAY back through the concourse to the Barnes and Noble.  I have witnesses on this board.

Sadly, our area is too car oriented, and it shows in some posts refuting the need for weekend commuter rail service.  Were we truly a "smart growth" region as we like to advertise, places like Odenton would be more built around the station with a TOD type of concept.  Instead, what we have is a remotely connected station with little walk-up potential. 

Amtrak may be a crowded option for those boarding at Baltimore and BWI, but there are enough intermediate spots that don't have this option.  Looking elsewhere in the country, there are a number of commuter rail operations that operate on weekends that don't have anywhere near the population in the corridor.

I think in this case, if it were built, people would quickly flock to it.

Let me repeat my opinion since I feel it is being misconstrued: I think a Penn Line weekend service might be viable between Baltimore and DC.  I don't see the other MARC lines being as viable, there might be some potential with VRE but again, there is no money there.  I'd start with the Penn Line, if anywhere, but in light of current finances, I don't see it happening soon.  Am I correct in thinking that before things got tight, the MTA was planning to start such a service?

Adam, when you've seen the line for that 4 PM Regional, any sense as to how many of those passengers are BWI or BAL bound?

I've taken the Saturday 8:20 from WAS-BWI a couple times to make flights in the 9:30-10:00 timeframe at BWI (the B30 wouldn't be an option for those times) and across the platform there were a good crowd of people without luggage. I think they're well patronized as it is.

I'm not doubting that these platforms are well patronized.  But how do you all know if these passengers are only riding from DC to Baltimore or points in between or if they are going to points beyond?