Metro Fare Hike Hits Suburban Riders Hardest

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- If you're a long haul Metro rider, hang on to your handrail! The total cost of your commute could be going up to as high as $15 a day.

Metro's Board today approved rate increases to fill a $109 million shortfall. Much of the burden falls on people who live in the suburbs.

Energy, maintanence, expanded service -- all been driving up costs. Filling the shorfall has become a bit of a skirmish between D-C and the suburbs.

"This is a regional transportation service, not a welfare agency for the District of Columbia," says board member Dana Kauffman from Fairfax County.

D.C. pushed hard to hold the line on bus fares --figuring bus riders are the least able to afford a rate hike. Bus passengers who pay cash will have to come up with an extra dime. People who use a SmarTrip card will still pay $1.25.

"We are getting a good deal because we need a good bus system," says D.C. representative Marion Barry.

Nearly three-quarters of the rate hike will come out of the pockets of people who ride the rails at rush hour. Adrian Engel already pays about $12 a day to park in Gaithersburg and ride in. He thinks that's expensive enough.

"Everybody benefits because of the people that ride Metro," says Engel. "There are fewer cars on the road. There is less polution, less road rage." He thinks taxpayers ought to do more to fund the system.

The Board raised the rush hour boarding charge 30 cents to a $1.65. The per mile charge goes up to, raising the maximum fare to $4.50. Parking goes up 75 cents. And if that fails to bring in enough they'll raise it to a dollar increase next year.

You can count on more fare increases down the road. The Board approved a plan to adjust fares every two years from now on as the consumer price index goes up.

The vote was five to one in favor of the fare increases. Only Kauffman of Fairfax County voted against it.