Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Proposed Fare and Service Changes

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Metro’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

In March 2022, Metro’s Board of Directors approved the $4.8 billion operating and capital budgets for Fiscal Year 2023 (effective July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022). The FY23 budget focuses on providing safe, reliable, and affordable transit service to the region. 

Here are some highlights of Metro’s FY23 budget:

Operating Budget

The $2.4 billion operating budget maintains improvements that started in 2021 and adds more service and discounts throughout 2022.

Lower fares and discounted passes

Effective now:

  • Free bus transfers to/from rail. Ride Metrobus free when transferring to/from Metrorail. Receive a $2 transfer discount that covers the fare for most Metrobus routes, except Express routes, when using a SmarTrip card.
  • Cheaper weekend one-way Metrorail fares. Just $2 for any one-way trip all weekend ($1 for senior/disabled fare).
  • Cheaper 7-day regional bus passes. Get a 7-day regional bus pass for just $12 and a senior/ disabled pass for only $6.
Effective on or around July 1, 2022:
  • Cheaper late-night Metrorail fares. Just $2 for any one-way trip after 9:30 p.m. ($1 for senior/disabled fare).
  • Cheaper monthly unlimited passes. Metrorail and Metrobus Unlimited Passes will cost $64-$192, depending on the distance selected. That’s a discount of approximately 10%. The pass typically pays for itself after 32 trips in a month.
Dates to be determined: 
  • Fifty percent off the 7-Day Unlimited Pass. Ride unlimited Metrorail and Metrobus for a week for $29.
Rail Service
Effective now:
  • Maintain current operating hours
    • Monday-Thursday 5 a.m.-midnight
    • Friday 5 a.m.-1 a.m.
    • Saturday 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
    • Sunday 7 a.m.-midnight
Dates to be determined:
  • Maintain weekday service improvements started in September 2021*
    • Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow line trains every 10 minutes during rush hours (6:30-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.), every 12 minutes during middays and evenings, and every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m. (7 days a week)
    • Red Line trains every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. (7 days a week)
    • Note: Trains are more frequent at stations served by more than one line.
  • More Red Line weekday rush hour service*
    • Red Line trains every 5 minutes during rush hours (6:30-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.)
  • More weekend service*
    • Red Line trains every 6 minutes (from opening to 9:30 p.m.)
    • Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow line trains every 12 minutes (from opening to 9:30 p.m.)
  • Support launch of rail service to seven new stations
    • Silver Line Phase 2: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway, and Ashburn stations
    • Potomac Yard Station: Located on the Blue and Yellow lines between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Rd stations
*Due to the ongoing 7000-series railcar investigation, service improvements would go into effect after 7000-series railcars return to service. Updates can be found here.

Bus Service

Effective now:
  • Frequent service network with 12 or 20-minute service on 36 of our most popular lines. 
  • Increased service to address crowding on selected lines.
  • Service restoration to pre-pandemic levels on selected lines.
Metro Sales Office Closure 

Effective on or around July 1, 2022:
  • The Metro Sales Office will close on or around July 1, 2022. All services offered at the Sales Office are available at fare vending machines, online, or Metro’s retail partner network.
  • Senior SmarTrip customer service will be available at the new Transit Accessibility Center at L’Enfant Plaza (300 7th St SW, Washington, D.C.) on or around July 1, 2022. 

Capital Budget
The $2.4 billion capital budget funds investments in programs and projects that are foundational for safe and reliable service. The budget is part of the six-year $13.9 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget. 

Metro's capital investments are focused on six categories: railcars and railcar facilities; rail systems; track and structure rehabilitation; bus, bus facilities and paratransit; stations and passenger facilities; and operations and business support. You can learn more at Metro’s Capital Improvement Program page.