Metro riders could be paying more to ride buses and trains across the Washington DC region next year.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is proposing an 11.1% increase in fares as part of its plans for the agency's 2028 fiscal year.
If approved, the change would raise Metro's regular fares from a current range of $2.25-$6.75 to $2.50-$7.50. The increase would apply to Metrobus and Metrorail.
The proposal would generate an estimated $40 million to $45 million in additional revenue for Metro, according to WMATA projections. However, Metro estimates the higher fares could result in about 8 million fewer trips.
When could Metro fares go up?
The proposed increase would not take effect immediately.
Metro's Board of Directors is scheduled to discuss the proposal Thursday,
Oct. 8. The agency expects its general manager and CEO to release a proposed budget in December, followed by public hearings during the winter.
If the fare increase is approved, the new rates would take effect in July 2027.
The proposed increase would be Metro's second fare hike in three years. The agency most recently raised fares in July 2024, when fares increased by 12.5%.
Metro says fares are one of its tools for generating revenue to support transit operations. In its proposed budget, Metro projected about $537 million in fare revenue, which is in addition to the nearly $1.94 billion in funding from DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Without the increased fare revenue, Metro says those three jurisdictions would need to provide 25% to 30% more money to maintain the same level of service. Otherwise, the agency would have to make service cuts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Metro raising fares? Here’s what riders need to know
