While many Metrorail passengers are still fuming over severe service disruptions Friday morning on the Red Line, WMATA’s rolling out new fares and fewer service hours.
Beginning Sunday, fares during non-peak hours are going up by 25 cents while peak hour fares will be increasing 10 cents. Riders of Metrobus will face increased fares as well. Some Metrobus routes are being eliminated. Fees are also increasing for those parking in Metro lots.
Metrorail commuters should also be prepared for a number of modifications in service. The elimination of Yellow Rush Plus service will impact riders between L’Enfant Plaza and the Pentagon as well as between Greenbelt and Mount Vernon Square.
Longer wait times are likely as trains will be dispatched with decreased frequency. Trains will now depart end-of-line stations every 8 minutes, instead of every 6 minutes.
Metrorail service hours are also changing, with an overall decrease in operating hours allowing workers more time to perform repairs across the system. Trains will stop running 30 minutes earlier Monday through Thursday with the system operating 5:00am-11:30pm. Weekend late-night service is being extended an hour, with Friday service from 5:00am-1:00am and Saturday service from 7:00am-1:00am. Sunday service is being cut both in the morning and evening with new service hours of 8:00am-11:00pm.
The fare hikes and service changes take effect on the final day of the year-long SafeTrack maintenance project.
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