College Park Commuters Take Fare Increase in Stride

As another round of Metro fare hikes take effect, some College Park residents may think twice about commuting to and from Washington, D.C., for work or internships each day.

On Aug. 3 (an additional delay from the original slated date of Aug. 1) fares will rise by 20 cents for riders traveling during evening peak hours, which are from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Metro will also increase morning peak hours – from 7:00 a.m. and 9 a.m. – later in the month. That means riders traveling between College Park and McPherson Square in downtown D.C will see their Metro costs increase from $3.70 to $3.90 if they ride at these times, which metro has termed "peak of the peak" hours.

This is the first time that Metro has increased its fares based on the time of day, said Angela Gates, a spokeswoman for WMATA, explaining that increased ridership at peak hours means a greater financial strain on Metro. The transit agency is already struggling to fill a budget gap of $189 million, according to a press released issued by WMATA in March.

"It costs us more to operate at that level of service, so in turn, we're asking for cooperation from riders who travel during peak hours," she said.

Gates also pointed out that this new pricing structure could be an incentive for people with more flexible schedules to wait to take the train until after peak hours are over, which could in turn alleviate congestion.

Unfortunately for many College Park riders, that isn't a viable option.

Robert Garcia, a Laurel resident who takes Metro from College Park to Washington, D.C., for work each day, said he wouldn't adjust his schedule to avoid the increase.

"I can't," he said. "I have to go at the same time."

The fare increase will also have a particularly acute effect on University of Maryland student interns who are not compensated for their commutes.

Alex Pilgrim, an intern for a private company in the District, said her schedule is too rigid to adjust. She also said that paying for the Metro to and from work each day already takes a considerable toll on her stipend. When asked if she would take an internship that didn't offer Metro compensation again, she said it wasn't likely.

"Probably not - unless it was guaranteed that I was going to get compensated for it," she said. "It really sucks up a lot of my check."

Megan O'Rourke, a program director at the University of Maryland's career center, said the hefty price of the Metro definitely plays a role when students are choosing internships.

"It's definitely a concern that a lot of students have brought to me," she said.

O'Rourke said many would-be D.C. interns are instead opting for work closer to home, either on campus doing research for professors or in Silver Spring, which is home to a number of nonprofits and is accessible by the free Shuttle-UM. She said she wouldn't be surprised if the extra 20 cents encouraged more students to avoid the District for the summer.

"They have to really think about it," she said. "They have to decide whether it's worth the investment now."