Some Metrobus riders will be asked to pay more to board their usual buses starting on Sunday when a 20-year-long discount ends on several bus lines in Anacostia. But the union that represents bus drivers voiced worries that the agency hasn’t done enough to let riders know they will be expected to pay up to 70 cents more for each trip. Union members on Tuesday passed out fliers so riders aren’t blindsided by the change. The idea was to help the riders who rely on the 19 bus lines — but also to protect the drivers.
After all, Metrobus operators have been yelled at, spit upon, slugged and even had guns pointed at their heads.
| Affected bus lines |
| Starting Sunday, a discount will end for some bus riders. They now will pay $1.50 with SmarTrip and $1.70 with cash, not $1, on the following routes: |
| 94, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, M8, M9, W2, W3, W6, W8 as well as for stops at or south of Good Hope Road on routes 90, B2, P1, P2, P6 and U2. |
| Riders who transfer between bus and rail at Anacostia and Congress Heights stations will get a 50 cent discount, for a total $1 discount. |
“The heat’s on the operator,” Jackie Jeter, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, told The Washington Examiner. “The operator’s on the front line.”
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said the transit agency has printed fliers of its own and was in the process of getting them out to the affected bus lines to alert riders.
When Metrobus operator Michael Greene handed out the union fliers at the bus shelters outside the Anacostia station Tuesday afternoon, some riders were clearly surprised. Several looked at the sheet and cursed.
Rasheedah Bey threw her head to the side and rolled her eyes as Greene explained it. “You say it like it’s nothing,” she said.
“I just work here. I don’t make no rules,” Greene responded.
Bey said she usually takes the bus even though it takes more time than the subway because it’s cheaper. “I’m barely making it now,” she said. “These lines in particular are crowded, standing room only. This is craziness. Oh well, what can you do? People have to take it.”
The change was part of a package of proposals that Metro’s board of directors approved in June.
Since 1991, the District has subsidized bus riders in Anacostia by 50 cents per ride, according to Metro. The discount was created when the Anacostia Metro station opened because bus routes started to turn back at the station, rather than continuing into downtown. That meant riders used to paying a single bus fare had to pay a rail fare, too. The discount went to all Anacostia bus riders.
The District asked Metro to modify the transfer this year so it only applied to people who transfer to and from the rail system, a change made possible by the technology in SmarTrip cards. City officials had estimated it would save the District about $900,000.
That means people riding the affected bus lines but not transferring to rail at Anacostia or Congress Heights will have to pay $1.50 for a bus ride with a SmarTrip card or $1.70 if they pay with cash.
“The thing is a lot of people can’t afford this and they can barely make it to work,” said Mamie Dickens. “It’s hard on everybody right now.”
She paused, then added: “And I’m worried about myself. I can’t afford it.”
