Effective July 1, 2024, Arlington Transit (ART) has discontinued three routes- 53, 61, and 62. In their place is Route 56 – Military Road to Rosslyn Metro. Transit riders can also expect fare increases throughout the region.
At the start of July, ART’s new route 56 began servicing Military Road to and from the Rosslyn Metro. This route was instated to take the place of routes 53 (Ballston/Old Glebe/East Falls Church), 61 (Courthouse/Rosslyn), and 62 (Ballston/Lorcom Lane/Courthouse), which have discontinued service.
Some notable stops along route 56 include Madison Community Center, Gulf Branch Nature Center, Dorothy Hamm Middle School, Washington-Liberty High School, the Arlington Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the Clarendon, Courthouse, and Rosslyn Metro stations.
ART and Metrobus raised their base fares from $2.00 to $2.25 starting July 1. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) stated in a few different news releases that the fare increase is to account for “recent years of inflation” and to “keep in line with cost-of-living adjustments”. ART’s reasoning behind the fare jump is to keep fares “simple and uniform in Arlington” and because fares have historically matched Metrobus.
STAR, ART’s transit service for riders who require accommodation due to age or disability, also increased fares from $4.00 to $4.50 for Zone 1. Similarly, MetroAccess fares will be capped at $4.50.
On weekdays, Metrorail fares will range from $2.25 to $6.75 based on distance traveled. Weekends and late night (after 9:30pm) fares will range from $2.25 to $2.50.
If the recent hike in fares has significantly impacted your commute and you’d like to consider alternatives, these options might be for you.
Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) is a low-cost alternative that can be useful for navigating any distance, especially shorter trips. As a non-member, there is a $1.00 unlock fee, and single rides start at just $0.05 per minute on standard bikes and $0.15 per minute on e-bikes. In some instances, taking a CaBi bike from one metro stop to the next will shorten your distance traveled which can save you money on your transit fare, plus the added benefit of getting your daily dose of exercise. CaBi also offers corporate memberships which employers can subsidize as a benefit to reduce the cost for employees even more.
Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) can also help your organization form carpools and vanpools. Carpools and vanpools are eligible to receive perks like preferential parking spaces near exits and elevators, free or reduced price for parking, and subsidized commuting costs, like free and faster travel in high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes. Not to mention incentive programs such as ‘Pool Rewards and Vanpool Alliance. If you’re interested in incorporating a vanpool at your workplace, a great place to start is ATP’s Vanpool Formation Guide.
Since WMATA’s $750 million dollar budget gap, transit users have long awaited news of the impact it would have on service, fares, and the system altogether. Thanks to DC, Maryland, and Virginia approving an additional $463 million dollars collectively to contribute to WMATA’s fiscal shortfall, cuts to service were avoided. Although higher fares aren’t usually something to celebrate, our region has cleaner air, less traffic, and healthier commuters because of the generous service our local transit providers offer.
To offset the financial burden of these changes, ATP has you covered. We work with employers based in Arlington County to advocate for and implement transit benefits. Whether it’s Pre-Tax, Direct, or Combination - these benefits help commuters save money. Interested in rolling out a benefit? Check out ATP’s Commuter Benefits Guide. If your employer doesn’t currently offer commuter benefits, consider referring them to ATP’s Employer Services team for a complimentary consultation.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/kittner.com for Arlington Transportation Partners