COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ‘THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING S 3350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004 David Grosso Committee Member Councilmember At-Large Government Operations Chairperson, Committee on Education Health Human Services Labor and Workforce Development February 27, 2020 Paul Wiedefeld General Manager Washington Metropolitian Area Transit Authority 600 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Dear Mr. Wiedefeld, The primary goal of the region's public transportation system should be to provide an equitable, accessible, safe, and reliable transportation option for all of our residents. While | applaud efforts in WMATA’s 2023 budget to reduce costs for riders by providing free transfers between buses and rail, |ave serious concerns regarding the proposed 25 cent surcharge on bus fares paid with cash. The overall goal of providing faster bus service is certainly important, and | have long been a supporter of dedicated bus lanes and expanded service to help our residents get to school, work, and home faster and safer. However, | fear that the proposed surcharge discriminates against cash users and could worsen commute options for our most marginalized riders. According to the FDIC, nearly 30 percent of District of Columbia residents are unbanked or underbanked. Those who rely on cash tend to be members of vulnerable populations, including youth, elderly, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and low-income residents. We should not be placing additional financial burdens on these residents by charging them a higher fee for the same service. As this policy seeks to push cash users to utilize a SmarTrip, it will lengthen their commutes because it will be difficult and potentially expensive to find and use a SmartTrip machine unless they happen to live, work, or go to school near a Metrorail station or WMATA retail partner. This i particularly concerning for residents in Wards 7 and 8, where only 3 non-Metrorail station sales locations exist. Upcoming solutions including the utilization of smartphone apps and mobile wallets to reload SmarTrip and pay fares do not provide a workable solution as those services will still require a credit or debit card and online access to complete payment.A speedier bus should not leave some of our residents behind. | urge you to eliminate the 25 cent surcharge for cash-utilizing riders and instead consider exploring creative solutions that expedite fare collection, boarding, and SmarTrip reloading without complicating and lengthening the commute of our most vulnerable residents. This could include allowing off- board fare payment, all doors boarding, or installing additional SmartTrip machines at particularly busy bus stops that are not adjacent to Metrorail stations. Should you have any questions or concerns, |am happy to discuss in more detail. You can also contact my Chief of Staff, Heather Edelman, at hedelman@dccouncil.us or by phone at 202- 724-8205, Sincerely, Bey KX David Grosso (I-At-Large) Council of the District of Columbia Chairperson, Committee on Education cc: WMATA Board of Directors Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.