Metro ridership falls, but will fares rise?

WASHINGTON - Metro ridership has continued to fall for several years, and that is forcing the transit agency to consider fare increases.

There are many factors to blame for low ridership on Metro: expense, reliability and safety concerns. Metro leaders met on Thursday and discussed the competition they face from bike and car share programs.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Metro interim general manager Jack Requa said board members are looking at other options to avoid fare hikes. Those include advertising, leaving open positions vacant and lowering operational costs.

"Most of the board members -- if not all - and staff also - have no interest in fare increases or service reductions," said Requa.

While raising fares is a consideration, everyone at Thursday's hearing understood that the service is not where it should be, so raising the price to ride could backfire.