Starting today, Metro will begin issuing tickets to fare evaders, in an effort to curb what the agency says is a $40 million problem.
Metro ran a warning campaign last month to alert people who neglect to pay fares that there are fines associated with fare evasion in each of the agency’s three jurisdictions. Now, Metro police officers will issue citations to anyone caught not tapping their SmarTrip cards or mobile phones at fare gates, exiting emergency gates in stations, and not tapping fare boxes on Metrobuses.
Criminal tickets with fines up to $100 will be issued in Maryland and Virginia, while a civil offense has been created for fare evasion in D.C., where police will begin issuing $50 tickets. According to Metro, tickets are provided by each jurisdiction. However, until recent legislation in D.C. established a process for adjudication and appeals, Metro did not have tickets to use; as a result, Metro was not able to issue citations for fare evasion in the District.
A Metro press release issued last month noted that fare evasion results in significant revenue losses, and is part of Metro’s efforts to close a shortfall of nearly $185 million in the upcoming budget. Using data from Metrobus and pre-pandemic industry averages for Metrorail, Metro conservatively estimates revenue losses due to fare evasion totaling $40 million in the fiscal year 2022, or 22 percent of the total budget gap. Metro will be able to measure the scale of the problem more accurately with the help of new faregate technology that is currently being installed.
“As I mentioned previously, the region needs to decide what we want Metro to be, and fare policy should be part of the conversation,” said General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke in an October 4 statement. “Many people have mentioned going to a fare-free model, but fare-free does not mean free. There are costs associated with running the community’s transit system, and therefore, the necessary revenues must exist to deliver the services the community needs.”
Additionally, Metro said it is exploring other methods for preventing customers from entering rail stations without paying. Metro will begin testing faregate modifications this month as a preventative measure. Prototypes are currently being developed and will be installed at a selected rail station for employees to use. In addition to tactile deterrents on top of faregates and higher barriers, other modifications are being considered. Upon completion of the initial round of employee testing, riders will have the opportunity to test and provide feedback on the modified faregates early next year.
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We'll begin fare enforcement November 1. @MetroTransitPD will issue fare evasion citations with associated fines to anyone jumping fare gates, improperly using emergency gates, or not tapping fare boxes on Metrobuses. Learn more: https://t.co/WSmaOuuRdF #wmata pic.twitter.com/vJbE4zuXAq
— Metro (@wmata) October 28, 2022