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Locals voice fare hike opposition
By Patricio Chile on 11/15/07
Members of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors Wednesday evening faced infuriated citizens at a public hearing to discuss a proposed raising of fares.
The base fare for Metrorail may increase 30 cents from $1.35 to $1.65, while the base fare for Metrobus will jump 10 cents from $1.25 to $1.35, according to a publication distributed by the WMATA at the hearing.
The fare adjustments will not apply to Metrobus passengers who use the SmarTrip card, according to another WMATA publication distributed at the hearing. The hearing was one of six to be held by WMATA in the D.C. metropolitan area.
The fare increase encourage s passengers to drive instead, compounding the city's high level of pollution, according to David Schwartzman, a Howard University environmental science professor who testified at the hearing. Furthermore, it would also financially inconvenience low-income citizens and public school students, he added.
"We don't need another dose of austerity for those who can least afford it," Schwartzman said.
The voice of Caneisha Mills, a Howard University student, rose in anger as she complained that the transit authority set up the hearings as a cover-up for its refusal to address public interests.
"They don't think about it because the Metro directors don't take the Metro every day," she said to loud applause from the audience.
To draw an example of this, Mills pointed out that the board members at this hearing and other hearings did not take notes as citizens testified. As a full-time student and part-time employee, Mills could not afford to take public transportation with such a sharp increase in fare charge, she said.
Previous public hearings on the fare increase had been inaccessible through public transportation, and low-income citizens would have a hard time commuting to these hearings in the evening, several citizens also argued. Wednesday's meeting was held at the Metro headquarters' location one block from the Judiciary Square station on the red line.
The base fare for Metrorail may increase 30 cents from $1.35 to $1.65, while the base fare for Metrobus will jump 10 cents from $1.25 to $1.35, according to a publication distributed by the WMATA at the hearing.
The fare adjustments will not apply to Metrobus passengers who use the SmarTrip card, according to another WMATA publication distributed at the hearing. The hearing was one of six to be held by WMATA in the D.C. metropolitan area.
The fare increase encourage s passengers to drive instead, compounding the city's high level of pollution, according to David Schwartzman, a Howard University environmental science professor who testified at the hearing. Furthermore, it would also financially inconvenience low-income citizens and public school students, he added.
"We don't need another dose of austerity for those who can least afford it," Schwartzman said.
The voice of Caneisha Mills, a Howard University student, rose in anger as she complained that the transit authority set up the hearings as a cover-up for its refusal to address public interests.
"They don't think about it because the Metro directors don't take the Metro every day," she said to loud applause from the audience.
To draw an example of this, Mills pointed out that the board members at this hearing and other hearings did not take notes as citizens testified. As a full-time student and part-time employee, Mills could not afford to take public transportation with such a sharp increase in fare charge, she said.
Previous public hearings on the fare increase had been inaccessible through public transportation, and low-income citizens would have a hard time commuting to these hearings in the evening, several citizens also argued. Wednesday's meeting was held at the Metro headquarters' location one block from the Judiciary Square station on the red line.
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