Metro’s weekday ridership numbers for the first three weeks of January rose more than 3 percent over ridership for the same time last year, an early sign that the biggest fare increase in the agency’s history might not lead customers to abandon the transit system.
“I don’t know why the numbers are up,” said Jim Hughes, Metro’s managing director for Operations Support. “It will take time to understand.”
Although Metro did not provide the exact ridership tally, officials said the numbers include data from the first week of January — before the fare increase took effect — and the two weeks following the increase.
Metro raised fares for the first time since 2004 to help cover the $109 million projected shortfall in the agency’s fiscal 2009 operating budget that was identified early last year.
The new fees, which are 30 cents to 60 cents higher for rush-hour rail customers, are expected to raise $107 million for fiscal 2009, which starts in July.
John Townsend, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman, said the agency could be getting a ridership boost in January from high gas prices.
Gas in the Washington area reached $3 a gallon in mid-December and stayed there until Friday, pushing commuters to take mass transit, he said
“Since the time that the fare increase went into place, gas prices have been over $3 in the D.C. metro area,” he said. “A poll we did about this time last year shows that young couples and young adults in their 20s and 30s — gas prices have an impact on those people. When gas prices begin to fall again, I think people will begin to re-evaluate their choices.”
Although Metro saw a 2 to 3 percent jump in ridership in 2007, the agency had a surprising 2.8 percent systemwide drop in December from December 2006.
Hughes said the dip was likely due to a cold spell in early December and a weekday Christmas, and that it was unlikely to be the beginning of a trend.
