Metro: Fare Hikes Lead To Ridership Decrease

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Metro report says fare increases have been a factor in decreased ridership.

Over the summer Metro increased fares for bus and rail riders in an effort to fill a projected $189 million budget deficit. The hikes were expected to generate more than $100 million, but through October the agency is more than $11 million below where it projected it would be according to a new financial report.

According to initial findings, rail ridership has remained flat but revenue is down because riders are adjusting their schedules to avoid the "peak-of-the-peak" fares. Bus ridership has decreased 5 percent.

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