Maryland

Metro Fare Hikes, Service Cuts Take Effect June 25

What to Know

  • Metrorail will close earlier Sundays through Thursdays and to open later on Sunday mornings, effective June 25.
  • Fares will increase 10 to 25 cents.
  • On the bright side for riders, Metrorail will stay open an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights, until 1 a.m.

Metro's reduced hours and new fares will take effect June 25, WMATA announced Friday, with Metrorail to close earlier Sundays through Thursdays and to open later on Sunday mornings.

WMATA's board of directors approved the changes earlier this year but announced the date Friday. 

The changes are "part of an effort to rightsize service, close a budget gap and provide needed time for new categories of preventive maintenance," WMATA said Friday in a release.

METRORAIL SCHEDULE CHANGES

On the bright side for riders, Metrorail will stay open an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights, until 1 a.m. Although in the past, the rail service had stayed open until 3 a.m., it has been closing at midnight since June 2016.

Metro's new hours of operation will be:

  • Mondays-Thursdays: 5 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
  • Fridays: 5 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • Saturdays: 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • Sunday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

In addition, trains will arrive less frequently during rush hours (with the exception of the Blue Line). See service changes below:

  • Trains will leave endpoints every eight minutes on each line. This actually means Blue Line trains will run more frequently, as trains are now scheduled for every 12 minutes.
  • At stations served by more than one line, trains will arrive every three to four minutes.
  • Additional Red Line service will run between Grosvenor and Silver Spring, which means trains will arrive every four minutes between those stations.
  • Yellow Rush+ service will be end. All Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square during weekday rush hours, and between Huntington and Fort Totten at other times.

The new schedule will provide an extra eight hours of track access to workers each week for repairs and maintenance, WMATA said in a release.

No changes will be made to off-peak service.

FARE INCREASES

Most fares for Metrorail and Metrobus will rise by 10 to 25 cents, and some bus routes with low ridership will be discontinued.

Regular Metrobus fares will increase from $1.75 to $2, but the cost is still among the lowest bus fares nationally, WMATA said. The transit system will keep its unlimited, seven-day bus pass priced at $17.50; this will allow frequent bus riders to avoid the 25-cent fare increase per ride.

Express bus fares will increase from $4 to $4.25, and airport buses (Routes 5A and B30) will increase from $7 to $7.50.

A new one-day unlimited rail/bus pass will be available for $14.75. WMATA said its monthly SelectPass will still be the best value option for regular commuters.

MetroAccess fares will continue to be calculated at two times the fastest comparable fixed-route rate, with the maximum charge of $6.50 remaining the same.

Daily parking rates will change at all Metro-operated facilities.

METROBUS SERVICE CHANGES

The following routes will have new timetables with schedule changes, added or discontinued trips, or trip time adjustments:

  • District of Columbia: 30N, 30S, 42, 43, 52, 54, 64, 70, 80, 90, 92, 96, A2, A6, A8, D8, E4, E6, G2, G8, H4, H8, L2, N2, N4, N6, S1, S2, S4, S9, W4, X2
  • Maryland: 89, B30, C4, C11, C13, C21, C22, C26, F4, F13, H11, H12, H13, J2, J5, K6, P12, P17, P18, P19, Q1, Q4, T2, W13, W14, W19, Y2, Y7, Y8, Z7
  • Virginia: 1A, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2T, 5A, 7W, 7X, 10A, 10N, 13Y, 15K, 15L, 16B, 16E, 16J, 16P, 16Y, 17A, 17B, 17F, 17M, 18P, 18R, 18S, 23B, 28A, 28X, 38B, REX

Find more information about the changes, including the changes for the above Metrobus routes, online here.

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