WASHINGTON — Nothing has changed more than a year and a half after Metro said 70% of bus riders are fare evading — and it cost the agency $50 million dollars in just nine months.
Between July 2025 and March 2026, fare evasion reached 69.4% on buses, as compared to just 4.8% on trains. At Metro’s Board of Directors meeting Thursday morning, one staffer said not only is it twice the national average for comparable systems, it’s also the highest number in the country.
WMATA staff said there has been an erosion of payment culture since the Covid-19 pandemic. And they said since other similar services in other jurisdictions, such as Montgomery County’s RideOn bus, are free, that may be part of the confusion. Plus, some government officials have suggested that Metrobus should be free, WMATA CEO Randy Clarke said…