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Metro riders with paper fare cards to see big hike
//June 28, 2012
WASHINGTON — When Metro raises its fares in July, riders who use paper fare cards will see big changes.
Using a paper card will cost riders an extra $1 for each trip. Metro is raising the surcharge for paper fare cards from 25 cents to $1 beginning Sunday. The surcharge will be one of the highest fare increases in the transit system.
Metro wants riders to use $5 plastic SmarTrip cards instead. They are cheaper for the transit agency to maintain. Still, more than 10 percent of rail riders still use paper cards. In September, Metro will offer $3 rebates on SmarTrip cards to lower the price.
Visitors who use Metro to sightsee may be hardest hit by the surcharge. The cost of all-day passes is also jumping from $9 to $14.
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