Unsuck DC Metro: Metro Fares: 'Massive, Massive Failure'

Friday, October 12, 2012

Metro Fares: 'Massive, Massive Failure'

From Mark:

A couple weekends ago, my wife and I had four visitors from out of town.

They had never been do DC before and were excited to see the sights.

Without thinking about it, I thought it would be best for the six of us to use Metro to get from our nearest stop, Vienna, to the National Mall area.

Big mistake.

First off, the fare is $3.50 each way. Times that by 12 (6 round trips) and you get $42. Then, add $1 to each of the guests' trips because they don't have SmarTrip.

Grand total for taking public transportation? $50! That's $8.33 a person--to take Metro!

That is insane.

We went back into town the next day, and even though it was a squeeze to get six of us in a sedan, we drove. Parking was $10. If you use the Federal reimbursement rate for driving, add another $15.50. Grand total? Half Metro's price, and the kicker is driving was easily twice as fast.

Even if Metro ran like a well oiled machine (it didn't the day we rode because it took nearly an hour each way), these prices are just incredible. For this, they should serve complimentary drinks.

Based on price alone, Metro is a massive, massive failure. Their pricing discourages ridership.

Other items:
Metro board spends $800K to find Metro board is corrupt (Examiner/WaPo)
Purple Line station would include trail access (WaPo)

Comments (46)

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+13 Vote up Vote down

BrianKal · 650 weeks ago

Metro Fares: 'Massive, Massive Failure'
more like
Metro: 'Massive, Massive Failure'

+4 Vote up Vote down

@undefined · 650 weeks ago

Visitors from out of town will not want a SmartTrip Card, so it is insane to charge them an extra $1 when they purchase a paper fare ticket.

5 replies · active 650 weeks ago

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Kara · 650 weeks ago

I am not sure why they would not, assuming the station near them sells them and a local tells them about it. If they will be here on a long weekend (or a week's vacation) they will probably take at least 3 round trips going to museums and some restaurants. Even without the rebate from metro a 5$ card is less than the 6$ surcharge.

The only way you can get around that is to drive. I am sure out-of-towners have all sorts of fun finding a parking space that is downtown.

+5 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 650 weeks ago

Depends. While I call the $1.00 per trip surcharge a "tourist tax" often it makes sense for visitors to by a SmarTrip card, especially if they're staying for a couple of days. Why? Well, though the card costs $10.00, it includes $5.00 in fare value. The initial $5.00 cost for the card is returned after 5 trips (2.5 round trips). But, since Metro is crediting $3.00 back to their accounts upon registering the card, making it really only a $2.00 purchase, one trip into town and back makes up for that. I've recommended to many people to go ahead and by the SmarTrip card once they tell me they are in town for several days. Besides, it gives a small discount if using Metrobus, too.

+7 Vote up Vote down

guest · 650 weeks ago

Well, using Metro on a long weekend is usually a recipe for spending said weekend in Metro stations flashing "Single Tracking this Weekend" signs.

As for whether its right to ding tourists: I dunno. I think if they really wanted to zap the tourists and also not do something greedy, they would create special goegraphic dependant day passes. London does this. You can buy a 2 day pass that lets you ride as much as you want as long as you stay within certain zones (i.e., the zones tourists want). They could let the tourists use the ones around the mall, Arlington, the WH, Capitol and Zoo for some price that would make sense to a tourist. Instead, they cede all that business to the tour buses.

I will say this about the paper ticket charge: it encouraged me, the long time resident and part time metro user (as in, I don't commute with it), to finally get a smart card.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Jason · 650 weeks ago

The surcharge is effectively a tourist tax but it's more like how a lot of tolls are cheaper if you have EZPass. They're rewarding using the payment method that keeps things moving along.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Andrew. · 650 weeks ago

The Metro fare structure is already a total mind-f@#&, why make it even more complicated?

+16 Vote up Vote down

Matthew · 650 weeks ago

I had some visitors in town the other weekend (2 people) and we decided to just get them SmartTrip cards and keep them around for the next time visitors come to town. Never keep a lot on them - but cheaper than using paper fare cards.

2 replies · active 649 weeks ago

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Don · 650 weeks ago

This is what I do. I have 6 smarttrip cards I keep around just for visitors. Only about $20 if that on them...my visitors usually load them up as a way of saying thanks, and they don't have to keep them when they leave.

To the original author's point - didn't you do the math before you set out? It has ALWAYS been cheaper to drive in/around when you have 3 or more people in the group...or thereabouts. Same with deciding on a taxi. Math isn't hard. Not sure what you are asking for here. Many other cities have a weekend tourist pass, but those systems are desperate for riders...it's to encourage weekend ridership. We don't have that issue. I think of MARTA in ATL as an example.

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VeggieTart · 649 weeks ago

I also have a couple of SmarTrip cards I keep on hand for when family visits. But I'm in trouble if I get more than two visitors at a time. I guess I could always arrange to buy an extra if that happens. The surcharge on paper fare cards is just ridiculous.

+4 Vote up Vote down

dhdf · 650 weeks ago

My parents were visiting from out of town, wanted the four of us to take my kid to the zoo. It would have been around $34 to go from Rockville to Cleveland Park, even with them using my extra smartrip cards. I have family in NoVa and my parents used to use metro often on their visits. They thought I was kidding when I told them how much it would cost to ride. We drove even though my house is < two blocks from metro.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Neil Stevens · 650 weeks ago

That's the whole point, @undefined. They're deliberately and willfully gouging out of towners all the extra fare fees they can tack on.

It's disrepectful and unbecoming a public service in our nation's capital.

2 replies · active 650 weeks ago

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robert g · 650 weeks ago

As if they aren't gouging the in towners too.

-2 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 650 weeks ago

How is it disrespectful when the majority of the spilled drinks, food, and trash in Metro cars is the result of tourists? Many trains that are taken out of service due to door problems are the result of tourists.

Paper farecards are more expensive for Metro to provide/maintain when you factor in the cost of printing them and using/maintaining mechanical readers instead of electronic ones. Why shouldn't people who insist on using them be required to pay for that?

People who pay for SmarTrip cards shouldn't be required to pay for the costly maintainence for clunky, mechanical, outdated card readers. People who use those cards should be required to pay for that maintenance. The $1 surcharge is one of the best things Metro has done in a while.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Zach · 650 weeks ago

Honest question...should metro really be setting its prices for weekend tourist groups of 6? Limited traffic, available parking...if you have a car and a bigger group, then driving definitely makes more sense. It would have to be a $4 round trip, which would be a steal for a smaller party.

Take advantage of having a big group and drive...use metro when you're by yourself or with 1 or 2 others

5 replies · active 649 weeks ago

+7 Vote up Vote down

LRL · 650 weeks ago

Zach is exactly right on this. Metro was designed to to provide congestion relief from single occupancy commuters during workdays. The typical rider is not The Brady Bunch on vacation looking to visit the Mall. It's intent is too serve everyday 9-5 commuters heading to DC. The cost benefit of Metro is seen in their trips, not when a mass group goes together. With a group of people, carpooling is always a more efficient way to travel.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Bitter Brew · 650 weeks ago

Exactly right.

-1 Vote up Vote down

Woodstockdc · 650 weeks ago

Absolutely wrong. Metro was originally designed to move tourists around the national mall core. The fact that it's being used to provide relief from single occupancy commuters during the week is part of why the system is failing: it's totally overloaded.

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LRL · 649 weeks ago

I think you have Metro confused with Tourmobile. If Metro was designed to move tourists around the National Mall, why would it extend to commuting suburbs?

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@undefined · 649 weeks ago

Because it was later extended under pressure or some other terrible reason from people who don't even live in the damn city. Extending Metro beyond the core DC/Arlington/Alexandria area was a huge mistake. It should be left to the urban area and have MARC/VRE extend much further into the surrounding suburbs.

+6 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 650 weeks ago

I agree it's WAY too expensive. I was at Branch Avenue on July 4th and watched several times as families of 6-10 people entered the station, checked out the fares on the machines--and LEFT!!! I guess by the time they added the fares for the round trip, plus the $1.00 per TRIP surcharge, they realized it would be cheaper to take a taxi. Or maybe even a LIMO! And these weren't even "peak" fares. It's almost embarassing anymore what this system charges people for the potential "thrill" of a system malfuntion and a trek up a broken escalator!

+19 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 650 weeks ago

This should be a bigger deal. This is the Nation's capital. It's an embarrassment.

Oh, well, I guess it's no different than the National Mall being all jacked up because we've been so bullied by wealthy people who don't want to pay their taxes that there's no funding to maintain and repair it. (It was part of the stimulus package at first but noooooooo...)

On second thought, maybe it is a good representation of our country.

Meanwhile other countries build bullet trains.

+13 Vote up Vote down

Purple Line · 650 weeks ago

If they're going to tack on a big surcharge for using the paper cards, why don't they just make Smartrip cards purchase-able at ALL stations, not just the major ones? I know they're available at CVS and Giant, but out-of-towners might not necessarily know that...and we all know how helpful Metro customer service is, if one were to ask the station manager.

1 reply · active 650 weeks ago

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RGG · 650 weeks ago

You are CORRECT! They NEVER should have implemented the new fares, all the while touting the "savings" by using a SmarTrip card until the cards were available EVERYWHERE!!! Most passengers have no choice, and as often as the SmarTrip vendors break down, those with a "choice" don't really have one either.

And on another note: Metro has installed new-style SmarTrip vendors in some stations, and apparently isn't allowed to operate them because they aren't ADA compliant--no Braille.... OK, while I get the boo-boo, is it really necessary to deprive EVERYONE of their use because of this until it's corrected?

+4 Vote up Vote down

taxpayer · 650 weeks ago

Metro is a public service, and should not be in the "business" of maximizing revenue. So much waste, and a system of funding that probably wasn't even a good idea back in the 60s.

+1 Vote up Vote down

bmfc1 74p · 650 weeks ago

If WMATA is going to charge more for visitors, then why is there an "off peak" fare on weekdays in the middle of the day? The theory must be that the service is worse but is it that much different than what the commuters get during "peak" hours? Charge the tourists peak fare during the middle of the day and get needed revenue from them.

1 reply · active 650 weeks ago

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Jin · 650 weeks ago

It is a lot different. I work part-time in DC, and have set my hours so I miss rush hour crowds and fares. On the occasion that I have to ride during peak times, the trains are slower, smellier (rarely get the fish smell after 9:30am, before 3pm, or after 7pm), more hot cars, etc. The difference is like night and day.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Wayne · 650 weeks ago

TRUTH. Too bad Metro doesn't care

+1 Vote up Vote down

Wayne · 650 weeks ago

And don't forget the local and federal taxes you pay them too!

-1 Vote up Vote down

guester · 650 weeks ago

Let me intervene before someone brings up the "Metro doesn't have dedicated funding" ruse.

They do. 40% of their riders are feds are who ride for free.

Furthermore, I can't remember a time when the jurisdictions denied Metro money.

Now the Federal government chips in even more.

Metro also gets MILLIONS in stupid grants from the Feds.

Metro's problem IS NOT A LACK OF MONEY.

1 reply · active 649 weeks ago

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@undefined · 649 weeks ago

Wow, whole millions?!?! If that's like, 10 million, that's maybe 8 new railcars! An absolute fortune!!11!!!1!

Those "stupid grants" from the Feds are what get us updated physical infrastructure, new rolling stock, and all the other oh-so-needed capital improvements throughout the entire system. Now, we could use even more of that - i.e. let's double the 7000-series order and upgrade the power to handle 100% 8-car trains.

But of course, capital funding is a totally different animal from operational funding. And let's not forget that farebox recovery rate at WMATA is 52% (i.e., fares are 52% of WMATA revenues), whereas in most other cities the rate is usually between 30 and 40%.

+7 Vote up Vote down

Stan Dessel · 650 weeks ago

I'm making this comment with the 4th new iPad Metro has bought me.

You're welcome!

2 replies · active 650 weeks ago

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Bitter Brew · 650 weeks ago

Were the first three stolen by thugs?

+4 Vote up Vote down

Elizabeth · 650 weeks ago

No...of course not...he doesn't ride metro!

-6 Vote up Vote down

Rube · 650 weeks ago

The MOST ironic thing is that the tourist has already given money to Metro via Federal dollars! Then Metro has the gall to ask for a buck more for each trip!

what a scam.

0 Vote up Vote down

Frank · 650 weeks ago

"They are who we thought they were", says those of us that have been saying variation of this FOR 20 YEARS!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 650 weeks ago

Why do you have to show a black guy stealing a wallet in that "Wallet Grab" graphic? That's racist!

+5 Vote up Vote down

Tearanew · 650 weeks ago

I live near the Friendship Heights Metro and work downtown. Despite the apparent convenience of using Metro for the daily commute, I don't. Here are my reasons: First, cost....its $3.25 each way using a SmartCard. That amounts to $130.00 per month. Second, I get free parking at work, so my driving costs are limited to gas and wear and tear. Third, driving is at least twice as fast and far more relaxing than Metro. I can listen to the news or music while I drive. And traffic during my typical commute times is light. By contrast, riding the Metro a good 35 - 40 minutes door to door. I'm never more than 20 minutes using my car. Fourth, reliability...or more accurate UN-reliability. I can't tell you how many times I've been caught stuck underground. Fifth: surly Metro employees...especially station managers. Metro employees must learn that they have the privilege of working of high wages and benefits. It is not a right. Finally, quality of the experience. Metro cars during rush hour smell like the back of jumbo jet after an overnight flight. No thanks.

1 reply · active 650 weeks ago

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RGG · 650 weeks ago

But the way things are going in D,C. now, you'll soon have to factor in the "flash tax." That's the tax imposed by the DC gubmint and collected at more and more red lights and ridiculously low "speed zones."

:)

+1 Vote up Vote down

Adam L · 649 weeks ago

The truth of the matter is that Metro is just too large for a city of this size. Other cities that have a rapid transit system of a similar size (Chicago, for example) actually have a large enough urban population that uses the system for trips at all hours, not just the weekday rush. That means fewer people are paying more to keep such an extensive system going.

If DC weren't the nation's capital, we'd likely have a public transit system similar to other mid-sized cities like Seattle, Boston, and Denver: buses, several light rail lines, and commuter rail.

1 reply · active 649 weeks ago

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@undefined · 649 weeks ago

Just going to point out that Boston has far, far more than "several light rail lines." Three separate heavy rail lines, one/four ground light rail, a BRT line, plus the whole mess of other things you described.

Metro IS too large for a city this size, but only in the sense that it extends too far. Like those other cities, it should be heavy rail in the core and VRE/MARC commuter rail service getting people in to transfer to it.

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OP · 649 weeks ago

OP here.

Um to all who say drive in a big group, we all don't have SUVs that can comfortably accommodate 6.

2 replies · active 649 weeks ago

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K-anon · 649 weeks ago

Rent one.

+1 Vote up Vote down

**DOLPH STRIKE** · 649 weeks ago

I think living in Vienna counts as a massive, massive failure. Next time take the ol' minivan over to the cracker barrel and eat some fake key lime pie.

-1 Vote up Vote down

Jack · 649 weeks ago

If they want to ding tourists?

Because DC's 10% sales tax and 13% bed tax isn't enough

1 reply · active 649 weeks ago

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VeggieTart · 649 weeks ago

Sales tax is, I think, 6.75 percent. It's the restaurant tax that is 10 percent, and I agree, that's utterly ridiculous. It does make it easy to figure out the tip, though. :s