WASHINGTON: Port Authority’s new flat fare of $2.50, recommended by a committee Thursday for approval by the board next week, could be a boon for riders in disadvantaged communities, the authority chairman said.
Under the new system that would begin in January, all riders using the automated ConnectCard system would pay $2.50 per ride and cash customers would pay $2.75. That would replace the two-tiered system that charges $2.50 for shorter rides and $3.75 for longer rides, resulting in lower fares for about 26 percent of riders.
“A lot of our poor people live in the outer communities,” authority Chairman Bob Hurley said. “I think this brings a great degree of equity to our outside riders.” The authority is counting on increased ridership and operating efficiency to make up for the loss of about $4.4 million in fares the first year.
Other changes to the fare system include requiring all passengers to pay when they enter, eliminating free bus rides Downtown and making the T a cashless system in July 2017. In the only major change from the system proposed in January, the charge for new or replacement ConnectCards — free now — would be $1 instead of $2.
The committee also recommended approval of guidelines to encourage affordable housing in its future development projects. The Transit-Oriented Development guidelines — the first in Pennsylvania — will allow the authority to “use the bully pulpit” to encourage affordable housing in developments on authority property.
