Metro loses more than a million riders on bus, rail ( DC )

Examiner ^ | October 1, 2010 | Markham Heid

[george76]

Metrobus ridership plummeted and the number of rail passengers fell well below staff projections during the first month of the agency's new fiscal year -- and the first month of higher fares.

Metrobuses transported 11.66 million passengers in July, nearly 1.3 million fewer than during the same month last year. Metro officials had anticipated a much smaller drop, projecting about 200,000 fewer trips.

Rail ridership was also down...

Beginning in late June, Metro officials raised the cost of all trips for bus and rail passengers. The fare increases included a 25- to 35-cent increase for bus riders, depending on payment method, and a roughly 18 percent increase for train passengers.

Kissal said she did not believe the fare increases were to blame for the lower-than-expected ridership figures...

"At this point, there are no fire alarms going off," Kissal said.

[AppyPappy]

We better look for them.

[DeFault User]

They have it in Europe and often (but not always) it is cheaper to rent a car or fly Ryan Air to your destination.

I found this out 6 years ago when my wife and her sister were doing a European tour. They extended their stay and wanted me to book them from Paris to Madrid. I tried all the train deals online and was shocked at the pricing compared to earlier trips we had made. Using a European travel site, I booked an Argentine airline for the flight, about half the cost of the train. Using the European online travel services also saved money on the hotel. Some of the flights and hotels were not available on English language services, but a Euro is the same in English or Spanish.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Ridershop tends to drop when there is so much track work going on. And yes, some people would rather drive than pay the higher fees.

And, of course, there is the rush-hour super-duper congestion surcharge for Metrorail. If it has already been implemented, then it is obviously having its effect (reducing passenger congestion), and Metro should quit whining.

And to think roughly half of my MD state gasoline taxes goes to stuff like this...

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Uh-ohz.

[Willie Green]

DC Metro gets too much money.
I think all Metro funding should be diverted to other cities for the next 20 years. Places like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Cincinnati, etc. etc. need the money a whole lot more than DC does.

[mvpel]

Using a European travel site, I booked an Argentine airline for the flight, about half the cost of the train.

The Brits will tell you to take the train anyway, but... "no pressure."