Morning Read: D.C. Councilmember Proposes Doubling Circulator Fare Rate

D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh has proposed significant fare hikes for the Circulator buses, doubling the fare for passengers paying cash from $1 to $2.

SmartTrip card users would pay $1.50.

The fares would go into effect July 1, with the expected $1.7 million in revenue from the price increases going to the Washington Elderly & Handicapped Transportation Service and to expand Circulator routes around the city.

A spokesman for Mayor Gray said he would evaluate the proposal, but that the mayor does not support raising fines, fees or taxes, The Washington Examiner reports.

IN OTHER NEWS:

* NBC News/Marist Poll: Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli are statistically tied in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. (News4)

* Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will not be attending Virginia’s GOP convention because he disagrees with the party’s decision to change the method of nomination from a primary to a convention. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

* Developers submitted a proposal for a 446,000-square-foot office and residential project at the Congress Heights Metro station. (Urban Turf)

* Cuccinelli talked to NBC’s Julie Carey, saying that his failure to disclose gifts from the CEO of Star Scientific was an honest mistake. (News4)

* McAuliffe is being forced to explain on the campaign trail why two commercial ventures he proposed in Virginia haven't lived up to the lofty expectations he set. (The Virginian-Pilot)

* Cuccinelli is the Republican nominee for Virginia governor. How did the Democrats wind up struggling in the race? (Daily Beast)

* Gov. Martin O’Malley launched an initiative releasing a wide variety of state data to the public online. (AP)

* Business group leaders say Maryland needs to be more competitive on taxes. (Maryland Reporter)

* A 62-year-old man living in Columbia Heights apparently committed suicide after being evicted from his apartment. (Washington Blade)

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