How Will the DC Metro Fare Hike Affect You?

Let's start with the good news.

If you're a SmarTrip card user, you'll do well on buses. It still just costs $1.25 for a bus ride for a SmarTrip user, or $0.35 with a transfer if you used the SmarTrip for your previous metro ride. Otherwise the hike raises bus fares by 10 cents to $1.35/$0.45 for those paying in cash. This is part of a program to phase out paper transfers...so eventually you can only transfer with a SmarTrip. The advantage will be that you'll have even longer to transfer from bus to bus if you want--3 hours instead of 2 (but that's not until 2009).

Also, according to the WMATA site, "Bus tokens, the one day bus pass and a multi-day rail pass, sold to people attending conventions, have been eliminated. Tokens will still be sold to MetroAccess customers. Riders also will pay more for a variety of rail and bus passes."

On the plus side, they're also adding more areas that sell SmarTrip cards. The cards cost $5 unless you're in certain low-income situations in which case you may get them for free.

Other good news is that during off-peak hours, there are no increases. So you may barely be affected if you don't travel during peak times.

The metro currently defines peak time as weekdays from 5 to 9:30am and then 3 to 7pm. Also from 2-3am on Saturdays and Sundays.

During peak times you may see a significant hike, depending on how far you're traveling. For example, one of my standard trips has gone up $0.30. That comes out to about $6.00 more a month one way. WMATA says that trips may increase by as much as $0.75 or $15.00 a month each way. Perhaps that's good news, the most extra you may end up paying is $30.00. But if you've got a tight budget, that's a real pain.

The most you'll pay for a one way trip will now be $4.50, up $0.60.

Unlike the buses, peak travel prices don't change even if you have a SmarTrip card. However, if you want to get the lower bus transfer fare, you have to use SmarTrip for your train trip too.

If you're a senior or a person with disabilities eligible for MetroAccess, it won't be as bad. Seniors will pay one-half of the peak regular fare. And MetroAccess customers won't have to deal with any rate hikes.

Want to know how your much your trips will cost? Visit the WMATA Station page to select your starting point, then use the page's fare calculation tool.