Metro brought in forensic accountants Thursday to find ways to prevent future thefts of riders’ fare, with officials also pledging to conduct a review of its police department.
But the coins that were apparently stolen from Metro vending machines represents just a small fraction of the approximately $18 million in cash that Metro’s rail system brings in each month.
Coins are a dwindling part of Metro’s business as more riders use credit and debit cards to pay for their commutes. Today about half of the fare revenue comes from cash, according to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.
Eventually Metro hopes to get out of the money business almost entirely, with riders able to pay their fares with a wave of a credit card, government ID or even cell phone at the fare gate.
In the meantime, moving money is a delicate business. Metro uses a special train, known as the money train, to pick up and shuttle cash around the rail system. Multiple police officers with large guns guard the train as it makes its rounds.
