Proposed Fare and Service Changes - Fiscal Year 2025 Arlington County Proposed Budget

March 27, 2024

The Arlington County Board is considering a 12.5% fare increase to ART and STAR in the Fiscal Year 2025 County operating budget, commensurate with WMATA’s proposed bus fare increase.  Services changes are also being considered to the following routes: ART 53, 61 and 62.

Proposed ART fare increases

The proposal would raise the ART regular fare from $2.00 to $2.25 and the ART discount fare for seniors and persons with disabilities from $1.00 to $1.15. The regular fare increase would match the proposed fare increase for Metrobus. ART fares have historically tracked with Metrobus rates to help keep bus fares simple and uniform in Arlington. The County has advertised a fare increase up to 25%, commensurate with WMATA’s proposed increase.

The proposed fare increase would also help offset increases in ART’s operating expenses. The base regular fare for ART was last increased in July 2017, by $0.25.

Proposed STAR fare increases

The fare proposal would increase the fares for STAR service. The increases would keep the Zone 1 fare at double the ART adult fare, while also helping to offset increases in STAR operating expenses. The County has advertised a fare increase up to 25%, commensurate with WMATA’s proposed increase.

• Zone 1 fare increase from $4.00 to $4.50
• Zone 2 fare increase from $5.50 to $6.20
• Zone 3 fare increase from $9.50 to $10.70

Proposed Service Changes

Service changes are also being considered to the following routes:

• ART 62 would be eliminated and portions of ART 53 and 61 would be eliminated. 
• ART 53 and 61 are proposed to be restructured together.

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Public Hearings

A public hearing on Arlington County's FY 2025 Operating Budget will be held on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 PM. 

A public hearing on the FY 2025 tax rate and fees will be held on Thursday, April 4 at 7:00 PM. Learn more here.