More than 1,200 five-foot-tall gates and taller fences have been installed across all stations. The agency also improved its fare boxes across its bus fleet.
Fare evasion increased to record levels during the pandemic, leading to a loss of $40 million of fare revenue a year. WMATA relies on those fares to help keep buses, trains, and MetroAccess services running.
The improvements have led to an 82% drop in fare evasion in the Metrorail system.
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Completion of the Fare Gate Project
More than 1,200 five-foot-tall gates and taller fences have been installed across all stations. The project began in July 2023.
“We have seen incredible results from the taller faregates,” said WMATA GM/CEO Randy Clarke. “We are never going to completely stop fare evasion, but these go a long way in addressing the problem.”
WMATA also recently completed the installation of new fareboxes across all 1,500 of its buses.
Customers often could not pay on buses because of farebox malfunctions. Metro Transit Police regularly patrol bus loops and individual bus routes to enforce payment.
Preventing Fare Evasion
Fare evasion is one of customers’ biggest concerns, according to WMATA surveys. Customers said it made them feel unsafe and that it was unfair to those who paid fares.
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“Tackling fare evasion has been one of the board of directors top priorities,” said WMATA Board Finance and Capital Committee Chair Matt Letourneau. “Not only does fare evasion cost us badly needed revenue, but it is also fundamentally unfair to all our customers who pay their hard-earned money.”
Metro Transit Police continue to patrol stations for fare evasion and have written more than 10,000 fare evasion citations so far this year. That’s nearly three times the number of tickets written through the same period last year and 2,000 more citations than all of 2019.
Revenue from the tickets goes to the local governments.
Fare evasion is one of customers’ biggest concerns, according to WMATA surveys. Customers said it made them feel unsafe and that it was unfair to those who paid fares.
Photo: WMATA
Fare Enforcement Success, Help for Those Who Need It
So far this year, MTPD has arrested more than 250 individuals stopped for fare evading and found to have open warrants. Police have also recovered 16 guns.
Fare evasion increased to record levels during the pandemic, leading to a loss of $40 million of fare revenue a year. Metro relies on those fares to help keep buses, trains, and MetroAccess services running.
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For those who need help paying, WMATA has several fare discount programs.
Nearly 8,500 people have signed up for Metro Lift, a half-off fare program launched in June 2023 for low-income individuals enrolled in SNAP. Those over age 65 are eligible for half-off fares with a Senior SmarTrip card. D.C. students are eligible for the Kids Ride Free program.
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The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
Through the strategic partnership, MOIA America will provide MOIA’s turnkey autonomous mobility solution. This includes purpose-built, autonomous-ready ID. Buzz vehicles equipped with the self-driving system developed by Mobileye, as well as operator training and enablement.
Officials said the project delivers a fully integrated passenger environment featuring improved solar-powered LED lighting, real-time arrival information, and a precision-engineered shelter designed to withstand the Texas climate.
Two battery-electric buses entered service on Earth Day, with four additional vehicles expected to join the fleet this summer. Seven more buses are planned for the end of 2027, bringing Metro’s total zero-emission fleet to 13.
With this launch, RABA is also now live on Cal-ITP Benefits, becoming the ninth transit agency in California to join the platform and the first small transit provider in the state to offer automated, real-time low-income fare eligibility verification through Tap2Ride.
Officials said the investment reflects the agency’s commitment to modernizing operator training while improving safety and operational readiness across the system.
Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.
