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Using data from WMATA’s website on Rail Stations and the newly approved FY13 rail fare structure – and some “Kentucky Windage”, I have attempted to provide the ridership of Rail and MetroAccess with a sneak peek of how the fares will look on July 1, 2012.
I cannot stress this enough: These are NOT the official fares.
The projected fares are, however, as close as can be reasonably calculated.
When I was working on this project, I reverse-engineered the current fares and found that not every fare adhered to hard-and-fast rules. MOST fares were rounded up to the nearest 5 cents if they ended in 3,4,8 and 9 and down if they ended in 1,2,6 and 7. SOME fares appeared to have other undetermined rules applied.
One of the pieces of the fare increase that has gotten a lot of press is that “peak of the peak” fares have been eliminated.
Uhm.
Yes and No?
The Good News is: yes there will not be a 90 minute window where you will be charged more than some other fare.
In terms of pricing?
The (mostly) Bad News is: just about everyone loses here.
Peak of the peak fare payers
Many of you will be paying more for the new Peak fares than you did for peak of the peak!
This is a preview of You want the Good News or the Bad News: Peak (of the Peak?) . Read the full post (309 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)
For those of you who have been paying attention – you know that the Board voted to increase bus and rail fares effective July 1, 2012.
What I don’t think has been properly put out in the mainstream media is how much that this is going to cost you: especially if you are an off-peak rail rider.
I spent this past weekend pulling station mileage data from the wmata.com website. By Wednesday I’ll have an online tool that you can use to compare your fares now to the ones that will be in effect on July 1 (Both peak and off peak rail fares will be available).
The following is from material presented by WMATA at the 4/2/2012 AAC (Accessibility Advisory Committee) meeting (Board Memo dated March 23, 2012).
The challenge of showing this piece of slight of hand is a bit like the illusion of sawing a person (usually female) in two (Chris Angel did multiple pieces but he IS an over achiever).
So… rather than static pictures: today’s offering has movement and sound:
( for cell users: you tube)
So – to summarize:
- If you chop data up in small enough bits you can distort its information.
The following is from material presented by WMATA at last night’s AAC (Accessibility Advisory Committee) meeting (Board Memo dated March 23, 2012).
So.. more Magic Metro numbers to Mystify and Entertain!
Notice: I’m not changing the numbers, the categories, the language … just where the magician’s hand is pointing.
And a reminder on this magic trick: we’re only talking about the category of riders who pay or don’t pay the capped fare for their trips. As a personal example – the majority of my fares ARE $7 (the ones for my commute to work) but not every fare is- some are only $5 or $6.
The following is from material presented by WMATA at last night’s AAC (Accessibility Advisory Committee) meeting (Board Memo dated March 23, 2012).
One of the most important skills a person can possess is an active crap detector. I’m not sure it is something that can be taught… but however you get it, mine hit 1000% at the AAC meeting last night.
It was a little like watching a magician’s slight of hand. The important thing is in having the ability to watch the correct hand!
And here, before your eyes… I will give you a quick demonstration of WMATA magic:
While the public comment period for the Budget and fare proposals is officially closed – the Board itself will not come to a final decision for around 60 days.
For those 60 days, I will continue to make my voice heard in the “public court” and hope that my readership (and the ridership) will continue to amplify this simple 2 point message:
The fare structure instituted in March 2010 was wrong.
The fare structure needs to be changed in a way that is equitable.
This past weekend I received a link to the Finance committee’s presentation to the Board. You can listen to it here.
Tired of all the lies, excuses and double talk?
Email them some straight talk of your own.
Deadline for all written testimony: 5 p.m. on Monday, March 12.
The face-to-face public hearing period is over. You may submit written testimony by following the instructions found here (“How to Submit Written Comments“) or by using the form below.
Bus Fares
|
|
Current |
Proposed |
Current |
Proposed |
|
Smart Trip |
Smart Trip |
Cash |
Cash |
| Local |
$1.50 |
$1.60 |
$1.70 |
$2.00 |
| Express |
$3.65 |
$3.65 |
$3.85 |
$4.00 |
Bus riders, lest you felt left out in the discussion – the proposed fare increase has something for you too.
Now if you work in Bethesda and live in Montgomery Village, or commute to DC or the Pentagon from the outlying suburbs using an Express bus you are safe. No fare increases for you. You are a protected species.
| Peak: The New Normal is the first in a series of closer looks at items under consideration on the fare increase docket.This article is the second and looks at what is changing in the Off-Peak Rail Fares |
| Rail-Off-Peak |
|
Current Off Peak |
Choice A |
Choice B |
Current Peak Fare |
| Boarding charge |
$1.60 |
$1.70 |
$1.90 |
$1.950 |
| Composite miles between 3 and 6 miles |
NA |
$0.237 |
$0.284 |
$0.299 |
| Composite miles over 6 miles |
NA |
$0.210 |
$0.252 |
$0.265 |
| Maximum fare |
$2.75 |
$3.50 |
$4.00 |
$5.00 |
|
|
|
Email #WMATA some straight talk
Tired of all the lies, excuses and double talk?
Email them some straight talk of your own.
Deadline for all written testimony: 5 p.m. on Monday, March 12.
The face-to-face public hearing period is over. You may submit written testimony by following the instructions found here (“How to Submit Written Comments“) or by using the form below.