930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: thirsty moore on February 20, 2004, 01:48:00 pm
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Metro Proposes Increase in Fares, Fees
Rider Rates Would Rise For 2nd Straight Year (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55960-2004Feb19?language=printer)
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 20, 2004; Page B01
Basic subway and bus fares could rise by as much as 15 cents and daily parking fees could increase as much as $2.30 under a proposal made yesterday by the Metro board of directors.
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I think the problem is that the last rate hike wasn't high enough. Our commuting prices on a relative basis are extremely low (and it stayed at $1.10 for basic fare for close to 10 years...). I think they need to do this.
If you use metro a lot, service decreases would be a far less satisfying answer. And unlike the feds, I guess the metro can't run at continuously increasing deficits.
I wish/would have thought that the nutso ad strategies they're developing would cover more of the cost gap, though.
These are the discussions that must be fascinating to witness:
"D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who represents the District on the Metro board, refused to support the fare and fee proposals, saying he could not agree to any plan that raises fares for Metrobus riders. He said bus riders often have no alternatives to public transportation and are disproportionately poor compared with rail riders.
"I'm speaking on behalf of the single parent with five children who boards the bus," Graham said. "It's not right that the poor working mother has to go out and carry the burden. We can find this money elsewhere. . . . I don't know why those least able to pay have to shoulder this burden."
But Fairfax County Supervisor T. Dana Kauffman (D-Lee), who represents Fairfax on the board, disagreed. "Not everyone who parks in our lots has a Lexus, and there are some people on those Connecticut Avenue buses who have more money than those of us sitting around this circle," he said."
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lets put tolls on all the bridges and pay for it that way
:D
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metro always seemed pricy to me. can't get from vienna to a wiz game on a $5 card. public transportation is always a loser when they cut publicly funded programs, though. also, they need a stop in bailey's crossroads.
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They should add a convenience fee on parking tickets.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
also, no one should ever stop in bailey's crossroads.
I agree.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
metro always seemed pricy to me.
I would pay twice as much, if only every city could have it, problem is in cities like St. Louis it gets blocked because the white folks in the western counties don't want people to come in to their neighborhood
instead you get to wait in 45 minutes of traffic to go to a baseball game downtown
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A fare increase for the trains I can understand, but to increase parking by $2.30 per day will just about take away any incentive to ride the metro to work...you may as well stay in your car, drive all the way to work and pay the same to park down town. My wife already has to leave two hours before she starts work just to be able to get a parking spot...and she mentioned this morning after we saw this on the news that if parking does go up...again...she will probably just drive all the way down town and be able to leave home 30 minutes later, because there won't be much savings at that point. I know she's not the only one in this situation because the car park is chocker every morning except Friday.
Way to help reduce morning traffic Metro!
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As I was walking up the Dupont Circle-South exit steps this morning (because the escalator was down...again), I had to laugh. If the fares do increase, every goddamn escalator within the Metrorail system had better be in working order! Perhaps if they fired some of the know-nothing "station managers," they'd have more cash to fill that budget gap.
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So the cheapest rush hour fare will be $1.50. So the cheapest commute will be $3 a day. Thats a gallon and a half of gas.... Gas has to be more expensive for it to be worth using public transport, cos it sure is difficult to compete with the convenience.
government workers get free metro cards and sell them on craigslist. I wonder what value of cards are handed out free, and how many of them are then sold on?
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Try paying for the gas, parking, and wear and tear on car for the Vienna to a Wiz game on $5.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
metro always seemed pricy to me. can't get from vienna to a wiz game on a $5 card. public transportation is always a loser when they cut publicly funded programs, though. also, they need a stop in bailey's crossroads.
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Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Try paying for the gas, parking, and wear and tear on car for the Vienna to a Wiz game on $5.
Vienna is about 12 miles to the MCI center. Assuming 20 mpg, that's 1.2 gallons.
Assuming $1.75/gallon = $2.10
Wear and tear amortization is about $0.12/mile. For 24 miles = $2.88
Street parking is free after 6:30 (or so).
$2.10 + $2.88 = $4.98
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the metro journey (Gallery Place-Vienna) is $2.20 regular time $3.35 rush hour....
my car gets 30mpg and the maintainance for 3 years is already paid for....
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Originally posted by mark e smith:
the metro journey (Gallery Place-Vienna) is $2.20 regular time $3.35 rush hour....
my car gets 30mpg and the maintainance for 3 years is already paid for....
yes but what about the medical bills for the lungs of future generations, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
wake up and smell the coming ice age
anybody know of any open street corners and have some posterboard I can use?
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Originally posted by pollard:
Originally posted by mark e smith:
the metro journey (Gallery Place-Vienna) is $2.20 regular time $3.35 rush hour....
my car gets 30mpg and the maintainance for 3 years is already paid for....
yes but what about the medical bills for the lungs of future generations, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
wake up and smell the coming ice age
anybody know of any open street corners and have some posterboard I can use? [/b]
I thought that driving actually reduced the likelihood of a coming ice-age by producing greenhouse gases and thus raising the earth's temperature?
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According to the Metro website, the distance the train travels from Vienna to Gallery Place is 14.3 miles. Are you saying you can drive a more direct route (12 miles) than the train does?
If you're going to a Wiz game, that one $3.35 peak fare and one $2.20 fare (assuming you're going on a weeknight. Also, parking is $3 at metro. So isn't it worth $3.50 extra not to have to deal with driving in traffic?
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Try paying for the gas, parking, and wear and tear on car for the Vienna to a Wiz game on $5.
Vienna is about 12 miles to the MCI center. Assuming 20 mpg, that's 1.2 gallons.
Assuming $1.75/gallon = $2.10
Wear and tear amortization is about $0.12/mile. For 24 miles = $2.88
Street parking is free after 6:30 (or so).
$2.10 + $2.88 = $4.98 [/b]
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by pollard:
[qb] I thought that driving actually reduced the likelihood of a coming ice-age by producing greenhouse gases and thus raising the earth's temperature? [/b]
which melts the polar ice caps, lowering the temperatures in normally warmer waters further south and disrupts the global climate, and makes Europe freeze over
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You probably could. Since Vienna is on the Orange line, you would have to transfer in order to get to Gallery Place, which is on the Red, Yellow and Green lines.
According to the Metro website, the distance the train travels from Vienna to Gallery Place is 14.3 miles. Are you saying you can drive a more direct route (12 miles) than the train does?
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and i work in tyson's corner. so i am driving to the metro from there and from home (bailey's). honestly, i wouldn't mind the fees so much if it didn't take like 45 minutes to get back to vienna. going to pentagon city if i am begining from home is much more pleasant. and those prices are per person. usually i drag my girlfriend along
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Originally posted by pollard:
and makes Europe freeze over
That's a good thing, yes?
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Why go through so much trouble to see the Wizards? Are Steve Blake and Jarvis Hayes that enthralling to watch? Granted, we are going to our token one $10 per seat game this year, but it's to see the Kings, not the Wizards.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by pollard:
and makes Europe freeze over
That's a good thing, yes? [/b]
well there are ramifications elsewhere, the US is probably best positioned to handle such a climate change, although there would probably be horrible droughts
i read recently the pentagon actually has a committee studying all of these possibilities, led by the controversial person who wanted to restructure the entire military under this administration
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by pollard:
and makes Europe freeze over
That's a good thing, yes? [/b]
Not for America....what fashion trends, or music would you all follow then?
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Not true. You'd transfer at Metro Center, which is just blocks away from the MCI Center anyway.
Originally posted by Random Citizen:
You probably could. Since Vienna is on the Orange line, you would have to transfer in order to get to Gallery Place, which is on the Red, Yellow and Green lines.
According to the Metro website, the distance the train travels from Vienna to Gallery Place is 14.3 miles. Are you saying you can drive a more direct route (12 miles) than the train does?
[/b]
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Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Why go through so much trouble to see the Wizards? Are Steve Blake and Jarvis Hayes that enthralling to watch? Granted, we are going to our token one $10 per seat game this year, but it's to see the Kings, not the Wizards.
i'm a fan of basketball in general, and being from pittsburgh i never had an nba team to follow. i've adopted the wiz for better or (mostly) worse. they are the only dc team i support, other than the united, and i am not that well versed on runny-kicky. i've never payed more than $25 for 2 tickets. i was mostly using it as an example, the mci center is where i go the most on the metro. i could have said "caps game", i guess.
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Originally posted by mankie:
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by pollard:
and makes Europe freeze over
That's a good thing, yes? [/b]
Not for America....what fashion trends, or music would you all follow then? [/b]
Twenty years from now we're all going to be following China anyway.
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That's cool, I can relate. I imagine if I lived in Baltimore, I's see the O's more often...no matter how bad they are. Glad that a non-cable DC station got the rights to some games this year.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Why go through so much trouble to see the Wizards? Are Steve Blake and Jarvis Hayes that enthralling to watch? Granted, we are going to our token one $10 per seat game this year, but it's to see the Kings, not the Wizards.
i'm a fan of basketball in general, and being from pittsburgh i never had an nba team to follow. i've adopted the wiz for better or (mostly) worse. they are the only dc team i support, other than the united, and i am not that well versed on runny-kicky. i've never payed more than $25 for 2 tickets. i was mostly using it as an example, the mci center is where i go the most on the metro. i could have said "caps game", i guess. [/b]
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Street parking within a large perimeter around MCI isn't free until 10:30 p.m. (2-hour limits, which would entail going out between periods to move your car).
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Try paying for the gas, parking, and wear and tear on car for the Vienna to a Wiz game on $5.
Vienna is about 12 miles to the MCI center. Assuming 20 mpg, that's 1.2 gallons.
Assuming $1.75/gallon = $2.10
Wear and tear amortization is about $0.12/mile. For 24 miles = $2.88
Street parking is free after 6:30 (or so).
$2.10 + $2.88 = $4.98 [/b]
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Originally posted by Bags:
Street parking within a large perimeter around MCI isn't free until 10:30 p.m. (2-hour limits, which would entail going out between periods to move your car).
I park in front of the Shakespeare Theatre (7th & E) after 6:30 all the time for free.
Of course, you probably don't want to leave your Escalade on the street. Understandably.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by Bags:
Street parking within a large perimeter around MCI isn't free until 10:30 p.m. (2-hour limits, which would entail going out between periods to move your car).
I park in front of the Shakespeare Theatre (7th & E) after 6:30 all the time for free.
Of course, you probably don't want to leave your Escalade on the street. Understandably. [/b]
It's true, it's a highly coveted vehicle, so I am worried about street parking. I've been looking at Hummers...they appear more 'theft proof,' but I think it's just an illusion.
Don't know how you get parking that close...way to go. Place is always packed (though, you know, I "lot" my vehicle for safety's sake).
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Originally posted by Bags:
Don't know how you get parking that close.
I get there at 6:25
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Actually, though I do think rate hikes are inevitable, I always forget how much more expensive it is to come in from the suburbs. I live in the downtown zone, so I'm spoiled and I forget -- sorry about that. I think my fare should rise to $1.50. [I was thinking about N.Y.C., with $2 fares, but forgot that it's $2 no matter where you go. Anyone know the base fares in Boston, which uses the same pricing system we do?]
And in the end, hey, the commuter tax will take care of some of this!! :D
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Originally posted by pollard:
lets put tolls on all the bridges and pay for it that way
:D
lets put trolls under all the bridges and pay for it that way
<img src="http://pages.prodigy.net/hauxfan/Signs/Text_in_Bubble/10.gif" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by Bags:
Actually, though I do think rate hikes are inevitable, I always forget how much more expensive it is to come in from the suburbs. I live in the downtown zone, so I'm spoiled and I forget -- sorry about that. I think my fare should rise to $1.50. [I was thinking about N.Y.C., with $2 fares, but forgot that it's $2 no matter where you go. Anyone know the base fares in Boston, which uses the same pricing system we do?]
And in the end, hey, the commuter tax will take care of some of this!! :D
i was amazed when i took the "path" train from jersy city to manhattan for $1.50.
most of my posts in this thread sound overly critical, but i like the metro for what it is. just wish it went more places more often and later. i like public transportation, and wish i could ride it to work. which isn't going to happen with my current situation.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
I thought that driving actually reduced the likelihood of a coming ice-age by producing greenhouse gases and thus raising the earth's temperature?
this was in the guardian yesterday -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153530,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153530,00.html)
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Originally posted by pollard:
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
I thought that driving actually reduced the likelihood of a coming ice-age by producing greenhouse gases and thus raising the earth's temperature?
this was in the guardian yesterday -
[/b]
What hubris! US policy will influence climate change. What about Chinese policy? Indian policy? Brazilian policy? Nigerian policy? Pakistani policy? Indonesian policy? Malaysian policy?
Is the US supposed to bite the economic bullet as a good first example? No way, José. Let China go first.
One thing that could restore the old clement climate: A sudden, rapid global depopulation.
For once, Mars is starting to look a bit less frosty...
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
metro always seemed pricy to me. can't get from vienna to a wiz game on a $5 card.
the bigger and more perplexing issue here is, why are you going to a wizards game? ;)
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question already answered in this thread
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Originally posted by Bags:
And in the end, hey, the commuter tax will take care of some of this!! :D
they'll never make that fly (I hope)
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Originally posted by pollard:
this was in the guardian yesterday -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153530,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153530,00.html)
Do they not receive American magazines in Britain?
This so-called "secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs" was published in Fortune last month. How did the eds at Fortune dig up this uber-classified, hush-hush document? The Pentagon gave it to them. [insert rolly-eyes icon here]
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,582584,00.html (http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,582584,00.html)
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Do they not receive American magazines in Britain?
This so-called "secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs" was published in Fortune last month. How did the eds at Fortune dig up this uber-classified, hush-hush document? The Pentagon gave it to them. [insert rolly-eyes icon here]
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,582584,00.html (http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,582584,00.html)
the fortune article was probably the one I read the first time
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Originally posted by Bags:
Anyone know the base fares in Boston, which uses the same pricing system we do?]
last time i was there, it was a dollar to go anywhere on the system, except the outlying branches, but i think they raised it recently (and got rid of the tokens). chicago is also around $2 or so to travel anywhere on their system.
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When I lived in Boston back in the late 80s, they had a scaled system like ours... Maybe since I lived in the city I didn't notice when the 'grades' kicked in, but it seemed to be pretty similar to D.C.
NY is $2 for anywhere....
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Baltimore is 2.50 all day.
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Are all of you who were in favor of raising Metro rates still in favor of rate increases given the new knowledge that Metro employees have been stealing millions?
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Beginning April 1, my wife will stop using Metro and start driving to work.....it will be cheaper after the new price increases take effect. Way to go Metro and your nifty-fingered employees, you've just put another car into the commuting nightmare...and I can guarantee she's not the only one who's come to this decision.
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A public DC institution plagued by theft and corruption?
Who woulda thunk it?
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Isn't Metro a privately run organization?
The parking garages where the thefts were occurring are privately run.
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Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
Isn't Metro a privately run organization?
The parking garages where the thefts were occurring are privately run.
Metro is part of WMATA - a public agency.
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Originally posted by mankie:
Beginning April 1, my wife will stop using Metro and start driving to work.....it will be cheaper after the new price increases take effect. Way to go Metro and your nifty-fingered employees, you've just put another car into the commuting nightmare...and I can guarantee she's not the only one who's come to this decision.
yeah, fiancee is driving to work now, rather than take metro and bus to work. course, we live in dc and she works in reston, so there's not much traffic going that way.
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move to VA...you'll save about 3% on your income taxes.
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by mankie:
Beginning April 1, my wife will stop using Metro and start driving to work.....it will be cheaper after the new price increases take effect. Way to go Metro and your nifty-fingered employees, you've just put another car into the commuting nightmare...and I can guarantee she's not the only one who's come to this decision.
yeah, fiancee is driving to work now, rather than take metro and bus to work. course, we live in dc and she works in reston, so there's not much traffic going that way. [/b]
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Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
move to VA...you'll save about 3% on your income taxes.
but then i'll have to say that i live in virginia.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
move to VA...you'll save about 3% on your income taxes.
but then i'll have to say that i live in virginia. [/b]
....and go to the new Wegmans store on 28 every lunchtime, because I think the whole of N. Virginia was crammed in there just now.
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Originally posted by mankie:
and go to the new Wegmans store on 28 every lunchtime, because I think the whole of N. Virginia was crammed in there just now.
do they feature cute Weimaraner paraphernalia there?
<img src="http://www.wegmanworld.com/images/art-sally2.gif" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by mankie:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:
move to VA...you'll save about 3% on your income taxes.
but then i'll have to say that i live in virginia. [/b]
....and go to the new Wegmans store on 28 every lunchtime, because I think the whole of N. Virginia was crammed in there just now. [/b]
Did you see the Post article and pictures? Those people scare the shit out of me. Some people really need to get a life getting in line at 520am to get in a grocery store???? :roll:
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There's a thread on Chowhound.com DC/Baltimore board (http://www.chowhound.com/midatlantic/boards/dc/messages/32945.html) about the opening. You'd think it was the day after Thanksgiving and everyone was hitting the Xmas sales. Crazy.
Originally posted by Metal Meltdown:
Did you see the Post article and pictures? Those people scare the shit out of me. Some people really need to get a life getting in line at 520am to get in a grocery store???? :roll: