Passengers on Metro buses and trains will need a little extra change in their pockets Monday, as the base fare jumps by 25 cents.
But Metro officials said riders should really be paying with TAP cards instead of change so they can take advantage of the new two hours of free transfers.
Metro’s base fare will increasing from $1.50 to $1.75. Riders who use the reload-able TAP cards to pay the fare will get two hours of free transfers to other Metro bus and rail lines to complete a one-way trip. The transfers are not valid for making a round trip.
According to Metro, 26 percent of its transit riders still pay with cash, and about half of them make trips that require transfers, meaning they can save money by investing in a TAP card.
TAP cards are required to ride a Metro rail line. The cards cost $1.
Metro officials said the agency plans to sell TAP cards over the next month at 30 “high-volume” bus stops in locations where there are no nearby TAP vending machines.
The new fare structure taking effect Monday also includes a $2 increase in the cost of a day pass, from $5 to $7. The weekly pass will increase to $25, up from $20, while the cost of a 30-day pass will jump to $100, up from $75.
The peak-hour fare for the disabled and people aged 62 and older will increase to 75 cents from 55 cents. Their off-peak fare will increase from 25 cents to 35 cents.
