From the Washington Post's Dr. Gridlock:Metro Fare Increase HearingsPersonally, I'm willing to pay more for Metro if it helps the trains run on time. I'm also a big fan of gearing those increases towards charging people more at rush hour to encourage off-peak commuting.
They're Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with open houses at 6:30 followed the hearings at 7 p.m. Full details about the locations in the various jurisdictions are on this page at Metro's Web site. You can also submit a written statement to Metro by as late as Monday, Nov. 26. Mail it to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Or you can send it as an e-mail to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com. Tell them you're commenting on Docket B07-3.
The Washington Post has decided to take some sort of a populist stand against any Metro fare increase, headlining its story, "Rider Outrage May Lead Metro to Tweak Fares" even before the hearings take place. Of course riders are going to be unhappy with fare increases - who's going to be excited to pay more for something as thrilling as the daily commute?
The question is, will the fare increases prompt riders to stop taking Metro as a protest or for financial reasons? At just 30 to 80 cents for rail riders and zero to 10 cents for bus riders, I can't imagine anyone changing their commuting patterns. The parking changes are definitely more drastic, but it seems like competition for spots is so stiff, the market can bear them.
What do you think? Let us know what you'll be telling Metro about the proposed increases!
5 comments:
Here's the email I just sent Metro, what do you think?
As a regular Orange Line commuter, I'd be happy to pay the fare increases proposed by Metro. I'd like to see the money is used to help more trains run on time more often. I'm especially supportive of any efforts to provide financial incentives encouraging off-peak or reverse commuting.
From a global warming perspective, I'd like to see any long-term funding mechanisms penalize high-carbon transportation options like driving and reward low-carbon transportation options like bus and rail. Why not tolls on single-occupancy vehicles at DC's bridges with the money used to fund public transportation?
No one likes to pay higher fares, but IF the money is being used wisely to make public transport better then I'll swallow my fare increase
Big "IF" guys...of all the coverage I've seen, this increase is to sustain Metro services, not improve them.
If only the ART buses took SmartTrip, I'd be indifferent.
ART Buses now take the SmartTrip card! http://www.commuterpage.com/art/
As of January 6, I'm back to driving in to work, all by myself. I'm one of the thousands who are unwilling to put up with unreasonable fare increases.
I hope Metro's ridership declines and Metro suffers as a result of these increases. Perhaps then they will realize that trimming the fat from their budget is better than screwing their customers.
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