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Metro riders say no to fare hikes
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Metro riders say they don't want to pay more to ride the subway system.
Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - An overwhelming majority of Metro riders want the transit system to focus on improving service and streamlining its operating budget before trying to charge passengers higher fares.
"I would like to suggest that the pathetic service we are suffering through now makes it pretty hard to swallow a fare increase," said Glenn Auve, of Arlington.
In all, 422 people spoke at public hearings or submitted written comments to Metro last month regarding proposed increases that would raise rush-hour rail fares between 30 and 80 cents and add $1.15 to the daily parking fees at Metro stations. Bus fares would rise a dime for customers paying cash. A daily rail trip would cost passengers parking at a station and taking the longest trips $15.
Of the responses, 47 percent said the suggested increases are too high, 45 percent said the quality of service did not justify an increase and 26 percent worried passengers would abandon the system.
Only 8 percent approved of the fare increases.
Riders also wanted Metro to generate more advertising revenue and receive larger government subsidies. They were skeptical of officials' claims that Metro needs the higher fares to stave off service cuts.
"I simply can't believe that you are operating with a budget shortfall running as full as you are," wrote Patricia Webb, of Alexandria.
Metro's board of directors is scheduled to vote on the increases Thursday. The board can approve smaller increases but cannot raise fares beyond the levels discussed at the hearings.
Suburban representatives are outraged that the proposed higher rail fares and stiffer daily parking fee would put the brunt of the increases on their constituency.
"DO NOT penalize us suburban riders on whom you depend!!" wrote Dunkirk resident Denise Warden.
Board members from the District pushed the proposed increases and refused to go along with any plan that would raise bus fares beyond a dime but keep rail fares and parking fees lower, saying most bus passengers could not afford to pay more.
"This rate increase is going to hurt those of us who need public transportation the most and while I understand the need for funding to run the Metro system, why not raise funds from those who can afford it? People who park their cars," wrote Cleveland Park resident Gina Greiner.
Some passengers did support the increases, if service would be improved.
"As a regular Orange Line commuter, I'd be happy to pay the fare increases proposed by Metro," wrote Miles Grant, of Arlington, who wants the new revenue to fund more railcars.
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3:34 PM MST on Sun., Dec. 9, 2007 re: "Metro riders say no to fare hikes"
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ctk9 said:
The metro isn't even worth it any more; soon we will have to buy cars.
81 agree | 65 disagree
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ctk9 said:
You want more money, improve the systems reliability. Buses and trains are inconsistant. Find out really where you can cut back even if it includes ppls jobs cut from the top and work your way down, then Advertise every where but have Advertisements that actual ppl care about what about local or nearby restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, parks and etc.
100 agree | 64 disagree
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jeremy r said:
i dont work, im a teenager but i take the metro pretty often to hang out with frineds, as it is i spend somewhere in the range of $8-10 whenever i want to hang with friends. its free for me to take the bus as i am a student, but i need to get to places that are further away. metro service is honestly terrible, its dirty, i see workers talking to each other and smoking when they should be cleaning and trains often have significant delays. in the past month ive ridden the metro probably on about 5 diffrent occasions to deal with a minor delay, two moderate delays AND them killing a deer that got on to the tracks, its absolutely rediculous how dare they raise fees any higher with service like this!!
93 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
people who say that they pay more coming from the suburban area this is not true i commute from brookland station to friendship heights station that is around a 2.60 one way, but wth this inrease it will be 3.20 and alot of the people riding this route are kids whos parents dont have money from teh public schools so this increase would be bad for everyone
95 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For a metro system that service the Nation's Capital, it is in disgraceful shape and shows the poor management and leadership that has brought down this system from years of abuse and neglect. Take for instance the multitude of escalators out of service. Why? Don't airports, department stores, have heavy foot traffic as well, yet do you see those being out of service? The cleaniness/maintenance of the train cars itself is a failure (called "broken window" syndrome), and for a heavily used Commuter train system to have carpeting, that comes with high maintenance and repair cost is absurd to continue this way. Recommend that an independent study be made to not only identify but recommend cost saving measures in management, administration, operations and maintenance, etc, be done before any short-sighted ("quick fix")solution of just raising fares be proposed as the silver bullet solution. Doing so is just deferring the responsibility of proper efficient management of an organization.
95 agree | 84 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Servic has to improve before they can increase fares. Buses and trains are inconsistant. On many occasions a 42 bus has driven right past me at a stop leaving me waiting thirty min. for another. I am very grateful for the public transit system that we have but there is no reason for it to be as unreliable as it is. You want more money, improve the systems reliability. There is no reason for the buses to run in bunches like they do. (three buses running bumper to bumper) There is nothing that irks me more than having to wait for 45 min for a bus that is supposed to run every 15. Get it together!
75 agree | 56 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If metro is recviced funds for the goverment, why is their a short fall? I ride from Branch ave to Dun loring everyday and my fare is $4.00 one way that $8.00 a day, that a $160 a month plus the bus fare. With the poor service that we recviced and being charge rush hours fares from 3 to 7pm. This is to much, but since I depend on metro to get back in forth to work and my job do not offer metro discount this is my burden to pay. While people in DC who ride the bus with tranfer only pay $1.35. I guess will save and get a car !!!
71 agree | 66 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why do we have to keep burdening the suburban residents with fare hikes. Who says they can afford it? Having a car is not the most flagrant sign of of wealth. This robin hood fare structure is sad.
100 agree | 64 disagree
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