Mecha_Jesus_03 t1_iu4bsc0 wrote on October 28, 2022 at 1:33 PM

Reply to comment by EC_dwtn in Metro Exploring Short-Term Fare Hikes And Long-Term Fare Overhauls by Maxcactus

Bro with the amount of people jumping the turnstiles I think it is a significant portion

EC_dwtn t1_iu4hsjc wrote on October 28, 2022 at 2:17 PM

They estimate they lost about $10 million in lost revenue during the first half of the year. It's a lot of money but many/most people jumping are kids who don't pay anyway.

Mecha_Jesus_03 t1_iu4j7zu wrote on October 28, 2022 at 2:27 PM

I don’t know, but I would think that the kids rides are reimbursed to WMATA by the government no? Also, their estimates are definitely conservative. Q1 2022 revenue was 50 million dollars, if 15% of people jump turnstiles (probably conservative lol) thats 35 mil per year

SchokoKipferl t1_iu4i09s wrote on October 28, 2022 at 2:19 PM

A lot of them are teenagers who ride free anyways (Kids Ride Free Program). They're supposed to tap their card but many of them don't bother with it.

brodies t1_iu4ue14 wrote on October 28, 2022 at 3:43 PM

Technicality: it’s free to the kids, but Metro still gets paid. Kids Ride Free is a subsidy provided by the DC government—DC covers their fare. When the kids and teens don’t use their card, Metro isn’t getting money.

LoganSquire t1_iu51yfo wrote on October 28, 2022 at 4:34 PM

Seems like it would be a lot easier for DC to just increase their payment to Metro based on the estimates ridership.

brodies t1_iu55hie wrote on October 28, 2022 at 4:57 PM

My understanding is they can’t actually do that due to the structure of the compact between DC, VA, MD, and the Feds that created WMATA. If I understand it correctly, each jurisdiction’s funding is set by a formula, and they can’t unilaterally give more. As I understand it, that’s part of the rationale behind things like DC trying to give residents $100 in metro money: it’s a way to indirectly fund metro without violating the funding rules. That said, I’m repeating what I’ve read and been told by others; I haven’t actually read the compact to confirm this limitation is in it.

NorseTikiBar t1_iu4iehn wrote on October 28, 2022 at 2:22 PM

"Bro" it amounts to something like 1% of their operating budget.