Metro giving riders six chances to take a hike

Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - Metro on Tuesday scheduled six public hearings for next month, giving riders several opportunities to voice their opinion on a fare-increase proposal the system's board of directors is considering.

The hearings, which Metro officials expect to be well attended, will be held between Nov. 13 and Nov. 15 in five jurisdictions: the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Arlington County and Fairfax County. All hearings will begin at 7 p.m. The first one is Nov. 13 at the Bechtel Conference Center on Alexander Bell Drive in Reston.

“We want to hear from the riders,” said Chris Zimmerman, who represents Arlington on Metro's board of directors. “We need to know how the riding public thinks this will affect them.”

The board members, who could vote as soon as December on the increases, and other system officials attending the meetings will likely receive earfuls of negative comments. Many riders and some travel experts are predicting the hikes will cause many suburban residents to stop using Metro and drive to work, adding congestion to already-ghoulish rush hours.

“It will be cheaper many people to use their car to get to work,” said Michael Snyder, chairman of Metro's Riders Advisory Council. “That is something that will be brought up a lot at the hearings.”

Under the proposals, daily parking fees could go up by as much as $1.15. Rush-hour rail fairs would grow by 30 to 80 cents each way, depending on the length of the trip.

The cost of riding Metro would jump almost $15 per week for some passengers. The maximum amount a passenger who parks at a station and then pays the maximum rail fare each way would go to $14.55, a $2.75 daily increase.

Regular bus fares would climb only 10 cents per trip for passengers paying cash and nothing for riders using SmarTrip cards.

Board members from D.C. insisted that bus fares not go up more than a dime, arguing the low-income bus passengers could not afford to pay more, but higher-earning suburban residents would have an easier time forking over more money to park.

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

IF YOU GO

This is the schedule of public hearings Metro has set to discuss possible fare increases.

All hearings begin at 7 p.m.

Nov. 13, Bechtel Conference Center, 1801 Alexander Bell Dr., Reston.

Nov. 14, Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street NW, Washington.

Nov. 14, Montgomery County Council Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville.

Nov. 15, St. Luke's Center, 4923 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington.

Nov. 15, Arlington County Board Office, Courthouse Metro Building, room 307, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.

Nov. 15, Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, Town Hall Room, 8001 Sheriff Rd., Landover.

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