$2 Weekend Fares, More Changes Coming To DC Metro In September

WASHINGTON, DC — The DC Metro system will introduce $2 weekend fares and other changes on Sept. 5 aimed at making transit a more appealing option for riders.

The changes were approved by Metro's board in June after public feedback on how riders plan to travel. Changes coming on Sept. 5 include $2 one-way fares on weekends regardless of distance, free bus transfers between rail and bus except on Express routes, more trains and buses, improved late-night train service, later closing on Friday and Saturday and more.

"As the region goes back to work and school, we will be ready with service that is convenient any time of the day and offers the flexibility riders need," said Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld in a statement. "We are also making Metro the best way to go on weekends, with less wait times for trains and just $2 for a one-way trip anywhere on the rail system."

The service changes will bring Metrorail service to 91 percent of pre-pandemic levels and Metrobus to 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels. According to Metro ridership data, ridership fell from an average 626,000 daily trips in 2019 to 176,000 in 2020. The daily ridership is trending even lower in 2021: 102,000 through June 30.

Here is a full list of changes coming Sunday, Sept. 5:

• Weekend fares on Metrorail will be $2 for a one-way trip, replacing distance-based fares. There will be no change to weekday fares.
• Metrobus will be free when connecting between rail and bus, except on Express routes. A SmarTrip card is needed for the discount.
• The 7-day Regional Bus Pass will be $12 ($6 for seniors and disabled riders), a 20 percent discount.
• Wait times on weekdays at any station served by multiple lines and the Red Line will be 3 to 6 minutes all day until 9:30 p.m.
• Trains will run every 5 to 8 minutes on weekends at stations served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.
• More trains will run every hour after 9:30 p.m., every 5 to 8 minutes at any station served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.
• Metrorail will stay open until 1 a.m. instead of midnight on Friday and Saturday.
• Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. on Sunday.
• Bus riders will see more buses on 36 Metrobus lines between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
• Riders on 10 routes will see new or restored service.
• Buses on more than 40 other routes will provide more frequent service. For detailed service changes, visit the Metrobus Service Changes page.
• In Alexandria, Virginia, bus service will be changed on several routes in response to Alexandria Transit Vision Plan implementation. DASH Bus will go fare free and introduce a redesigned bus network on Sept. 5.
• In Prince George's County, Maryland, normal bus service will resume at Prince George’s Plaza Station following completion of the Platform Improvement Project
• In the District of Columbia, bus service to the Kennedy Center will be restructured.

For more information on service changes and bus and rail frequency, visit www.wmata.com/initiatives/changes-2021.