Wyn Delano
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Metro today announced that changes to fares, schedules and rail system hours will take effect Sunday, June 25, 2017. The changes, which were approved by the Board of Directors earlier this year, are part of an effort to make the system more financially stable.
Among the changes taking effect, most fares on Metrobus and Metrorail will increase between 10-25 cents; some low-ridership bus routes will be discontinued; trains will arrive slightly less frequently during rush hour; and Metrorail system hours will be adjusted to provide an additional eight hours of track access weekly to improve safety and service reliability.
To ensure customers are prepared for the changes, Metro will conduct extensive outreach in the weeks leading up to the June 25 change day, including signage aboard vehicles, at rail stations and key bus stops, MetroAlerts email and text messages, social media, and handouts distributed to customers at high-traffic locations. Information can also be found at wmata.com/changes.
New hours have also been announced for Metrorail, with weekday closings at 11:30PM, Friday and Saturday closings at 1AM, and Sunday at 11PM. Additionally, Metro will open one hour later than now on Sundays, at 8AM.
For Metrorail customers, most fares will increase by 10-25 cents. A new one-day unlimited rail/bus pass will be available for $14.75, while the monthly SelectPass will continue to be the best value option for regular rail customers.
Regular Metrobus fares will rise to $2, a 25 cent increase from $1.75 and still among the lowest bus fare nationally. In response to concerns from riders, Metro will keep its unlimited, seven-day bus pass priced at $17.50 to allow frequent bus riders to avoid the quarter-per-trip increase.
Express bus fares will increase from $4 today to $4.25, and Airport buses (Routes 5A and B30) will increase from $7.00 to $7.50.
MetroAccess fares will continue to be calculated at two times the fastest comparable fixed-route rate, with the maximum charge of $6.50 remaining the same. Daily parking rates will change at all Metro-operated facilities.
During weekday rush periods, Trains will depart endpoints every 8 minutes on each line. At stations served by more than one line, trains will arrive every 3-4 minutes.
Red Line riders will catch a bit of a break with additional service running between Grosvenor and Silver Spring, bringing trains every 4 minutes between those stations.
In addition, Yellow Rush+ will be eliminated. All Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Mt Vernon Sq during weekday rush periods, and between Huntington and Fort Totten at other times.
No changes are being made to off-peak service.
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