Subway Fares May Rise 30 Cents

Metro's Proposal On Increases Heads For Public Debate

Minimum rush-hour subway fares could rise as much as 30 cents, bus fares could go up a dime and parking fees could increase by $1.15 under a plan agreed to by Metro board members yesterday that now must go before the public.

The proposal is designed to spur public debate, and board members said the amounts of the suggested increases are likely to change by December, when the board is to make a final decision after a series of public hearings. Under Metro rules, the board can only lower the proposed changes, not raise them. New fares would go into effect early next year.

Also yesterday, board members delayed for two weeks a vote on a townhouse development at the Takoma Metro station in the face of vigorous neighborhood opposition and a plea from Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

Under the pricing plan, base rush-hour subway fares could rise 30 cents to $1.65, and peak-period costs could go up as much as 80 cents, depending on trip distances. Maximum rush-hour fares would increase 80 cents, from $3.90 to $4.70. There would be no increase during off-peak periods.

The cost to take a bus would remain $1.25 for riders who pay with electronic SmarTrip cards, and cash-paying riders would pay 10 cents more.

Metro would also have one year to eliminate free paper bus-to-bus transfers to give riders enough time to transition to electronic cards. To encourage use of the cards, Metro officials plan to give away about 50,000 SmarTrip cards to low-income bus riders.

The $1.15 increase in parking fees would be added to the charges at Metro parking facilities, which can be as high as $3.75 to $4 at some suburban lots.

The proposal also calls for Metro to increase the number of reserved parking spaces at its lots by 3,500, a 70 percent increase over the current 5,000. Reserved spots cost $45 a month, in addition to daily fees. Many lots fill quickly and have long waiting lists for reserved spaces.

The fare proposal adopted yesterday came after weeks of sometimes angry debate that pitted suburban Metro board members, who want to keep parking fees and rail fares low, against urban members, who prefer to keep bus fares low because more riders come from the District and are low-income.

The fare increases are needed to help close a projected $109 million budget shortfall. The plan agreed to yesterday falls $20 million short, Metro officials said.

The fare debate yesterday, which stretched to 90 minutes, was on the verge of a stalemate until members agreed to modify a plan originally proposed by D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who represents the District on the Metro board. Until yesterday, District members had refused to discuss any increase in bus fares.

But to win consensus, the District agreed to allow a 10-cent increase to be considered. "We don't want to appear recalcitrant," Graham said. In return, suburban members agreed to higher parking fees and rail fares.