(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) would like to remind bus passengers that, as of Sunday, September 25, 2011, the Anacostia special fare will only apply when riders transfer to or from Metrorail at the Anacostia or Congress Heights Metro Stations.

The special fare was established when the Green Line opened in 1991. At that time, bus routes that used to continue across the Anacostia River were instead terminated at the Anacostia Metro station where passengers could transfer to Metrorail. To compensate passengers for the additional cost of taking two modes, a $0.50 discount was applied to bus trips.

However, due to technology limitations at that time, the special fare applied to all bus trips, even if you weren’t transferring to rail. The change will restore the original intent of the discount. Customers who make a combined bus and rail trip, in either direction, will see no change in their total fare. The $0.50 discount will be applied when they transfer between Metrorail and Metrobus at the Anacostia and Congress Heights stations. The new discount will require a SmarTrip card and will be in addition to the regular rail-bus/bus-rail discount.

For bus only trips, the regular Metrobus fare of $1.50 (SmarTrip) or $1.70 (cash) will apply.

Frequent bus riders can save money by purchasing a 7-day unlimited ride bus pass for $15 at the Anacostia Metro Sales Office. The office is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The change will impact customers who make bus-only trips on the following Metrobus routes:
A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, M8, M9, W6, W8, 90, B2, P1, P2, P6; and U2.

For more information please visit www.metroopensdoors.com or call (202) 637-7000.