Montgomery County bus riders no longer have an economic incentive for breathing hazardous air.
The County Council voted unanimously to stop offering free bus rides on code red days — deemed unhealthy air quality for everyone — ending a 15-year program designed to keep cars parked and senior citizens and children, particularly, from inhaling smog-filled air.
County Executive Ike Leggett said the elimination will “align our policy with other jurisdictions in our region, with little to no impact on ridership and save thousands of dollars in revenue.”
Montgomery County was the last jurisdiction in the area to offer free bus rides on code red days. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission ended its program last year.
Leggett says the county loses $45,000 in revenue for every weekday that the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments declares a code red day. The county is cutting back on a variety of public transit discounts in filling a $1 billion budget gap next fiscal year.
Though the region’s air quality has improved significantly in recent years, sweltering temperatures have produced unhealthy ozone levels this week.
Jen Desimone, environmental planner with the Council of Governments, said the agency is expecting code orange days, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, through Sunday. There already have been eight such days this year compared with just four last year.
She added that COG expects to “start seeing more orange days throughout the summer.”
However, there hasn’t been a code red day in the Washington area since 2008. In 1998, nearly 50 days were classified as code orange or red.
High ozone levels reduce resistance to respiratory disease and damage lung tissue, according to medical officials. The county is encouraging residents to carpool, refuel after dark and avoid using gasoline-powered lawn equipment.
County bus riders will start paying more regardless of the air quality.
Ride-On bus fares will increase June 27, mirroring Metro’s rate hikes. Regular rides will cost $1.70, or $1.50 with a SmarTrip card. The bus agency also will suspend its Kids Ride Free program.
