Metro fare hike begins on Sunday

WASHINGTON - Metro's Board of Directors approved the transit agency's largest-ever fare hike on Thursday, with rail fares increasing 18 percent across the board and Metrobus fares going up 20 percent. The base rush-hour Metrorail fare rises from $1.65 to $1.95, and the non-rush hour fare from $1.35 to $1.60. The price for a Metrobus ride, with a SmarTrip card, increases to $1.50 from $1.25. The new maximum fare, with SmarTrip card, will be $5. The changes go into effect on Sunday. Metrorail riders will also confront the new peak-of-the-peak fare increase beginning Aug. 1. From 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a 20-cent surcharge on all trips. The fare hikes are part of Metro's plan to close a $189 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.