WMATA adding more service, more affordable pass products

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) customers are now able to ride more and spend less with the introduction of more affordable passes and more Red and Yellow Line service at some stations.

All Metrorail passes will now come with free Metrobus service, providing a better value and experience of customers. Four passes will be lowered in price — the Seven-Day Unlimited, Seven-Day Short Trip, Seven-Day Regional Bus, and One-Day Unlimited Pass. There is also the new option of a Three-Day Unlimited Pass.

Red Line trains will run end-to-end between Glenmont and Shady Grove, instead of turning some trains back at Silver Spring. The change complements the extended service to Shady Grove that began in December when WMATA eliminated the “Grosvenor Turnback,” where every other Red Line train began and ended at Grosvenor.

On the Yellow Line, extended service to Greenbelt is already in effect, doubling rush hour service at nine stations north of Mt Vernon Square (Shaw-Howard, U Street, Columbia Heights, Georgia Ave-Petworth, Fort Totten, West Hyattsville, Prince George’s Plaza, College Park and Greenbelt) to reduce crowding conditions. Previously, Yellow Line trains turned back at Mt Vernon Square during rush hours and at Fort Totten at all other times.

In keeping with WMATA’s commitment to improve reliability and customer service, the agency’s industry-first “Rush Hour Promise” will continue to provide riders with a credit toward future travel for unscheduled delays of 10 minutes or more.

These customer-focused improvements come as the agency’s safety and reliability continue to improve, thanks to robust preventive maintenance, capital investments, and new dedicated funding sources. On-time performance last month reached 90% for the first time in at least eight years. Railcar reliability is also at the highest level in eight years, averaging more than 145,000 miles between delays — a 150% improvement over last year.