Does Metro's rush hour surcharge make sense? (pricing, trains)

[JBPisgah]

There's another thread here about how high Metro's fares are, but I want to ask another question: How does it make any sense, in terms of the region's transportation workability, for Metro to charge more at peak times?

Typically, peak surcharges are used to discourage use, for example, congestion pricing is used to discourage driving during peak hours in London..

DC roads are parking lots during rush hour, but it takes the opposite approach. Most roadways are free, but subway rates for peak hours (and unlimited-ride cards typically used by commuters) are jacked way up. Is there any transportation justification for this, or is it just dysfunctional?

[yamota]

it's only fitting since metro is so efficient and reliable and metro employees are so hard working and care so much about the passengers

[Flamingo13]

It's certainly not fair on the Blue Line

[11KAP]

it's dumb.

[BrickCharm City]

I think they are banking on the fact that some people (like me ) have no choice but to take Metro during peak hours; so they capitalize on that. The ICC is like that too. The toll is more during peak hours even though people have a free (270/495/95) alternative.

[slim04]

There is some justisification for the surcharges because the metro system runs more trains with more cars during peak periods when the surcharges are charged. If they chose to have the same number of trains and cars as off peak hours, commuters might have to wait for several trains or more just to get on.

[DCforever]

If Metro is at or above capacity during rush hour, it's the proper approach. It will tend to push ridership to the shoulder hours.

[JBPisgah]

Originally Posted by DCforever

If Metro is at or above capacity during rush hour, it's the proper approach. It will tend to push ridership to the shoulder hours.

This is a better way a phrasing my question, thanks. Is Metro at capacity? A little googling and we have an answer:

"It is projected that in 2020 ridership growth will have surpassed the point for any additional capability of the system to carry the peak passenger loads required to maintain market share on the Orange Line and soon after on the remaining lines."

I die a little each time I read such terrible writing, but the bottom line is, BrickCharm City called it. We are being milked (and possibly conditioned) with higher fares at rush hour to fill Metro's coffers.

http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/C...ty_ExecSum.pdf

[DCforever]

Metro's coffers are not full enough to maintain system reliability. You want it cheap or do you want it to work?

[JBPisgah]

If full capacity will be reached by 2020 - essentially, tomorrow - I don't have a complaint about fares. That's scary as far as DC's transportation future.