Washington DC Discovers 64% Of Riders Don’t Pay Bus Fares. Their Apparent Solution? Punish The Ones Who Do

Daily Caller ^ | November 12, 2026 | John Oyewale

[karpov]

The general manager of the Washington Metro, the U.S. capital’s rapid transit system, mooted Thursday the possibility of hiking bus fares and cutting service amid a budget deficit and rampant bus evasion.

Randy Clarke exclusively told 7News that the Metro is hard-pressed to find funding to keep its current service rate.

“We’re going to have a deficit in [the fiscal year starting next summer] even on top of a fare increase,” Clarke told 7News. “So it’s our job in two weeks to come back to the board and talk about some more optionality around even a higher fare increase, service cuts that could be pretty significant, or our jurisdictions helping us both on fares and/or on the subsidy [they give us] to make sure that we’re delivering service.”

Metro officials said in October that the Metrorail fares could become 11.1% higher starting July 2027, NBC4 Washington reported.

More than six out of every ten riders — 64% — avoid paying their bus fares despite campaigns by the Metro operators encouraging riders to pay by tapping their cards or smartphones, 7News reported.

Clarke had previously said he was considering seeking amendments to local and state laws to help the Metro punish fare shirkers, according to the outlet. (RELATED: DC Moves To Decriminalize Metro Fare Evasion)

Clarke cited tariffs and inflation as additional and significant reasons why the Metro had wound up with a deficit. The transit operator has been struggling to keep up with fuel and electricity bills, and inflation has outstripped local government subsidies, Clarke told the outlet.

Clarke was also considering asking the transit system’s board to significantly reduce rail, bus, and Metro Access service, according to the outlet.

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TOPICS: Local News; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: crime; fareevasion; masstransit; washingtondc

[SharpRightTurn]

“More than six out of every ten riders — 64% — avoid paying their bus fares”

Hey, it’s the District of Corruption; of course they’re going to avoid paying their fares.

[OpusatFR]

My city is fixing the problem by cutting the number of bus lines and reducing stops.

And...building “low” income massive apartment complexes in the outer loops that no longer have bus service.

What could possibly go wrong.

[fella]

I grew up directly across the river from 1947 till 1971. In the 50’s I remember mass transit, bus, streetcar, rail and taxi being private companies. Fares were affordable and rides were safe.

Then after 1960 all that changed.