Extended hours for Metro, but higher prices

[revaluation]

"Metro directors announced . . . the subway

would . . . stay open one hour later on Friday

and Saturday nights, until 3 a.m. The plan for

later weekend hours continues Metro's recent

trend of catering to people who use the subway

to get to and from restaurants, bars and

entertainment venues. . . If approved by the

three jurisdictions and the Metro board of

directors next month, the . . . expanded

weekend hours would take effect July 1. . .

'Metro will run in a way that reflects the

realities of this region's night life' [ Ward 1

D.C. Councilmember and Metro Board Chair ]

Jim Graham said."

Fares for MetroAccess, the door-to-door van and taxi service for the disabled, would increase from $2.20 to $2.40. Metrorail and bus fares for the elderly and disabled would remain at half the peak fare. Metro board members recommended rejection of a proposal to limit MetroAccess pickups and drop offs to within three-quarters of a mile of a Metro station.

If approved by the three jurisdictions and the Metro board of directors next month, the increases and expanded weekend hours would take effect July 1.

A Metro board committee passed the budget yesterday. All 12 board members had signed off on the plan, with the approval of their jurisdictions' transportation departments, according to several people familiar with the closed-door negotiations.

To soften the burden of higher fares, Metro directors said, the subway would open Saturdays and Sundays at 7 a.m. -- one hour earlier -- and stay open one hour later on Friday and Saturday nights, until 3 a.m. The plan for later weekend hours continues Metro's recent trend of catering to people who use the subway to get to and from restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The District will pay all of the $1.6 million to operate until 3 a.m. as an 18-month pilot project to gauge its popularity and cost.