Give Commuters a Pass, Metro

The frustrations expressed by Metro riders at the hearings on proposed fare increases are understandable ["Riders Give Metro an Earful," Metro, Nov. 17]. Most important, fare increases are likely to lead many people to drive, worsening traffic congestion and contributing to global warming. Metro must do all it can to minimize fare increases so as to encourage commuters to use mass transit. Certainly, local jurisdictions and the federal government need to contribute a larger share of the cost of the system.

But if fares must be increased, the Metro board can take another step to improve commuter morale. When the SmarTrip system was proposed, the board planned to study a "Fair Fare" program in which the discount passes available (e.g., the Metrorail one-day pass) would be built into the SmarTrip software. That way, if a rider's trips at regular fares reached the cost of a pass, remaining trips in that period would be free. This would be the equivalent of buying a pass retroactively.

If Metro put this plan into effect, the use of SmarTrip would go up, commuters who receive transit subsidies from their employers wouldn't have to worry about buying passes, and everyone would be happier.

ROGER PLAUT

Rockville