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Metro Riders With Paper Fare Cards To See Big Hike

WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Metro raises its fares in July, riders who use paper fare cards will see big changes.

Using a paper card will cost riders an extra $1 for each trip.

Metro is raising the surcharge for paper fare cards from 25 cents to $1 beginning Sunday. The surcharge will be one of the highest fare increases in the transit system.

Metro wants riders to use $5 plastic SmarTrip cards instead.

They are cheaper for the transit agency to maintain. Still, more than 10 percent of rail riders still use paper cards. In September, Metro will offer $3 rebates on SmarTrip cards to lower the price.

Visitors who use Metro to sightsee may be hardest hit by the surcharge. The cost of all-day passes is also jumping from $9 to $14.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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