Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

SchokoKipferl t1_iu4i09s wrote

Reply to comment by Mecha_Jesus_03 in Metro Exploring Short-Term Fare Hikes And Long-Term Fare Overhauls by Maxcactus

A lot of them are teenagers who ride free anyways (Kids Ride Free Program). They're supposed to tap their card but many of them don't bother with it.

10

brodies t1_iu4ue14 wrote

Technicality: it’s free to the kids, but Metro still gets paid. Kids Ride Free is a subsidy provided by the DC government—DC covers their fare. When the kids and teens don’t use their card, Metro isn’t getting money.

13

LoganSquire t1_iu51yfo wrote

Seems like it would be a lot easier for DC to just increase their payment to Metro based on the estimates ridership.

4

brodies t1_iu55hie wrote

My understanding is they can’t actually do that due to the structure of the compact between DC, VA, MD, and the Feds that created WMATA. If I understand it correctly, each jurisdiction’s funding is set by a formula, and they can’t unilaterally give more. As I understand it, that’s part of the rationale behind things like DC trying to give residents $100 in metro money: it’s a way to indirectly fund metro without violating the funding rules. That said, I’m repeating what I’ve read and been told by others; I haven’t actually read the compact to confirm this limitation is in it.

3