Metro said it will expand its services by adding more buses and trains on busy lines, as well as longer operating hours on weekends, and it will also reduce prices starting September 5.
The updates come as the DMV area is reopening schools for in-person learning and employees are returning to their offices.
“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.”
Metro’s Board of Directors approved the new changes in June this year after receiving the public’s input.
Average wait times for buses will be reduced and more services will return to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Free bus transfers between rail and discounted passes will also be provided.
The discounts and service changes that will take effect starting Sunday, September 5 are as follows:
Discounts
- Free bus transfers – For those connecting between rail and bus, the bus ride will be free for all routes except Express service.
- Lower rail fares on weekends – Weekend fares on Metrorail will be $2 for a one-way trip, instead of the current distance-based fare.
- Lower prices for seven-day Regional Bus Pass – Riders will pay just $12 for a seven-day Regional Bus Pass, $6 for seniors/disabled customers, a savings of 20 percent.
Metrobus
- More buses on the most popular Metrobus services – On 36 lines, there will be more buses, more often from 7 am-9 pm, seven days a week.
- New and restored service – Customers on 10 routes will have new service added or service restored.
- Less waiting between buses on additional routes – Buses on more than 40 other routes will provide more frequent service for customers.
- More buses day and night – To view more details on all the service changes, click here.
Metrorail
- More trains, not just during rush hour – Customers can expect to wait no more than three-six minutes for a train on weekdays at any station served by multiple lines and on the Red Line, all-day until 9:30 pm.
- Improved late-night train service – More trains every hour after 9:30 pm, every five-eight minutes at any station served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.
- Later closing on Friday and Saturday – Metrorail will stay open until 1 am instead of midnight on Friday and Saturday. That’s one hour more to be out and about.
- Earlier opening on Sunday – Metrorail will open at 7 am instead of 8 am on Sunday. That’s one hour earlier to get your day started.
- More trains on weekends too – Get where you want to go faster, with more trains, more often on the weekends, every five-eight minutes at any station served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.