Metro Plans Crackdown As 70% Of Bus Riders Evade Fares

Source: Jeremy Poland / Getty

Metro is considering tougher measures to address fare evasion on its buses, where nearly 70% of riders are not paying their fares, according to WMATA data. This leaves the remaining 30% of riders to cover the costs, creating an unsustainable financial burden.

Also See: Montgomery County Provides Free Bus Rides On Car-Free Day

Metro, which relies on a mix of government funding and fare revenue, is facing budget shortfalls partly due to this issue. To combat fare evasion, Metro is proposing a plan that incentivizes local governments to enforce bus fare payment by offering reduced Metro costs for jurisdictions that show results.

Also See: DC Fines Drivers Nearly $15M For Blocking Bus Lanes

Fare evasion worsened after agencies like Metro went fare-free during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while progress has been made on the rail system with new fare gates, enforcing bus payments remains a challenge. In D.C., fare evaders face civil citations and potential criminal penalties, while in Maryland and Virginia, it remains a criminal offense.

Source: The DMV Daily

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Metro Plans Crackdown As 70% Of Bus Riders Evade Fares  was originally published on mymajicdc.com