Intra to Metro Smart Passes

Michael Perkins

Greater Greater Washington.org

Most of the time, riders pay per trip

Bus Fare

Payment

(cash or stored value)

Rail Fare

Metro sells weekly passes

$1.50

x 10

x 10

The bar shows the fare value

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... ~~~~~ Blue = bus only

$1.50 Weekly Bus Pass


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~~~~~~ Red = rail only

$3.24 $3.25

Rail"Short Trip" Pass

x 10


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~~~~~~ $4.70 $5.20

Rail"Fast Pass"

Passes are valid for unlimited trips

• A bus pass is valid for unlimited local bus rides ($1.50 or less)

• A rail"short trip" pass is valid for the first $3.25 of any rail trip

• A rail"fast pass" is valid for all rail trips

Expensive trips need additional fare

Express bus

Automatic*

*For bus passes, this extra is paid automatically via Smartrip

Exact Change Only*

*PROBLEM: For rail, this extra must be paid using exact change at Exitfare machine

PROBLEM: Bus passes are worthless on rail and vice versa

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This means regular bus pass customers have an incentive to take trip by bus even if it would be much faster and more efficient to take a train.

Pay-per-ride customers get a transfer discount

Transfer discounts are meant to encourage people to use the rail and bus as an integrated system.

PROBLEM: Pass customers get no transfer discount

The transfer discount for rail pass-holding customers disappeared when transfers became Smartrip-only and paper transfer slips were eliminated. Bus pass holders never received a transfer discount on rail.

PROBLEM: No short-distance rail pass

• Rail"short pass" covers a substantial distance - Ballston to Eastern Market is $3.15

• No rail pass makes sense for short commute

- For example, Columbia Heights to L'Enfant Plaza

is $2.00, existing "short rail" pass wouldn't make sense unless you plan on taking 17 rides in a week

Recommended changes to Metro passes

$1.50

$3.24

$4.70

First, make passes valid on either bus or rail

x

x

x

10

10

10


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.. ~~~~~ Purple = rail or bus

$1.50

$3.25

$max

This will allow pass holders to take whatever transit vehicle is appropriate for their trip.

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.. ~~~~~ Second, change from weekly to monthy

Monthl

x 40

$1.50

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$1.50

-Increases convenience (fewer transactions)

-Multlplv by 40, based on typical

20 commuting days per month and consistent with other transit agencies

$1.50

$3.25

$n

Third, allow customers to choose the pass va I ue

Monthl

x 40

x 40

x 40

V/

$1.50

Monthl

$3.25

$n

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This will allow customers to choose a pass value that's appropriate for the trips they take most often (usually their commute).

Month

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Fourth, always pay additional fare out of stored Smartrip value

••

Automatic

Monthl

This will increase customer convenience (no exact change needed) while allowing pass holders to occasionally take a trip that's more expensive than their selected pass value

Fifth, reinstate transfer discount for pass holders

••

••

Month

Monthl

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This simplifies the set of passes Metro sells

$n

Monthl

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x

10

x 40

$n

This pass would be useful to any customer that typically rides 40 or more times per month, regardless of distance, time, mode of travel or elderly/disabled status.

$1.50


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~~~~JJ Blue = bus only

$1.50

To satisfy customers that use the current bus pass and may be reluctant to change or pay an entire month's worth in advance, continue the weekly bus pass