WMATA Releases First Analysis of FY11 Fare Increase

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Full report:  http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_of_directors/board_docs/041411_4AReviewofFY2011FareChanges.pdf

Basic summary:  Peak of the peak has not resulted in as much of a shift of riders to the shoulder period as expected.  Overall system ridership is down by just over 1% (so much for the dire prediction sometimes posted here that ridership would plummet and the fare increases would have to be rolled back).  Ridership on the B30 and 5A is down significantly.  Smartrip use is up.

[WayneNYC]

Some of the findings in the report I had expected.  I disagreed with the POP fares from the beginning.  I understand that they wanted to encourage riders to shift their travel times, but I'm thinking the POP fare was seen more as a "penalty".  Some people I asked (including my wife) felt quite annoyed by the POP fare.
I didn't expect patterns to shift much as I didn't feel many people would be able to change their work schedules.  I know federal employees can work varied schedules.  However, in the private sector, my thinking is that most of those who can change their schedules probably had already done so for their own personal reasons.

I never expected a significant ridership drop as many commuters have no better option.  Also, I imagine that federal employees are not bothered by the fares since they get a sizable transit subsidy.   For me... It costs me less to drive to/from work than it would to use metrorail. 

I agreed with the siginficant fare increase for the B30 and 5A routes, but I wonder if those routes would've done better with a $5 fare.

I don't dislike WMATA or put 100% of the blame on them, but for me... In my opinion, metrorail is a very expensive system and I suspect the fares are a major factor in regular riders being unhappy with WMATA.

Like most of us, I'd love for WMATA to get the proper funding so that they can improve service, facilities etc.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I think POP was worth a try and I think I wrote a long post on why it deserved a chance when it was being proposed, I don't think I'd object if it was abolished in the future at this point. 

There was also an analysis posted here showing that while WMATA is more expensive than most systems for longer trips, you couldn't travel nearly that far on other systems, and that for comprable distances, WMATA fares are in line with other systems in the US.  That being said, I don't understand why the per mile charge is higher above 3, 7, or 10 miles than it is for the start of the trip.  I'd rather see the per mile charge be the same for everyone, which would probably slightly increase the fares for some short trips but decrease the fares slightly for longer trips. 

I wonder how the B30 and 5A would have done with a 5 dollar fare.  I also wonder how much of the 5A was non-airport traffic (and also airport workers) before the fare increase and what it is now.

[Scrabbleship]

I wonder how the B30 and 5A would have done with a 5 dollar fare.  I also wonder how much of the 5A was non-airport traffic (and also airport workers) before the fare increase and what it is now.

A $5 fare would have been a lot simpler as it would be a one-bill transaction for anyone without a Smartrip and it isn't as crippling of an increase. It also would've, during peak hours, have not made the B30 less cost effective than MARC for many people in the core of DC headed to BWI. I'd also like to see if the fares curbed anything for passengers to Tysons Westpark and Herndon-Monroe who as I understand weren't being charged $6 a ride.

The real interesting thing to see would be to see how much of the express ridership decrease was for the J7/9. Over the year period between the end of FY09 and the start of FY11, the fare on that route (and Ride On 70) TRIPLED between going from local to express fare, then two increases.

[WayneNYC]

There was also an analysis posted here showing that while WMATA is more expensive than most systems for longer trips, you couldn't travel nearly that far on other systems, and that for comprable distances, WMATA fares are in line with other systems in the US. 

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.  I agree about the max distances covered by metrorail and I think off-peak fares are in line with other US systems.  However, I think the peak fares are definitely pricier.  If you look at a trip such as Silver Spring to Metro Center....: It's about an 8 mile trip and the peak fare is $3.25.  $3.25 doesn't sound much like a pricey commute, but it's 32.50 per week and $130-149.50 per month.  The cost for this commute actually rivals the cost for some commuter rail monthly passes.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I don't remember what thread the post in question is, it may have only applied to off peak, I don't recall.  I agree that a $3.25 fare wouldn't be comprable to other US systems, but $1.65 or whatever the current off peak minimum would be.