At the end of this month rides on Metrorail, MetroAccess and Metrobus will cost customers 10 cents more.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors approved the change in January, but now a time frame for the price change has been set.
From Feb. 28 to June 26, fares on Metrorail during off-peak periods will cost at least $1.45, and during rush hour, commuters will pay $1.75 for their ride.
As for Metrobus, riders paying with cash will have a $1.45 fare. Customers using SmarTrip Metro cards will now pay $1.35.
Senior citizens and riders with disabilities will only see the cost of their fares increase by a nickel. More details on specific fares are available here.
The fare increase is intended to help reduce Metro’s budget gap, but more increases could come again soon.
“Additional fare changes and other actions related to Metro’s fiscal year 2011 budget are likely later this spring as Metro grapples with a projected $189 million budget deficit,” according to a Feb. 17 Metro news release.