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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently approved a $1.2 billion fiscal-year 2004 budget, which includes a fare increase.



The budget includes funds to rehabilitate facilities, extend service, and replace and add equipment to accommodate increasing ridership.



WMATA will increase basic fares 10 cents, expand weekend service hours, add police officers and eliminate some management positions. The agency offered non-represented employees an early retirement incentive program, under which 112 employees recently retired.



The cost reductions and fare increases are expected to address the agency’s $48 million budget shortfall.



The fare increase will go into effect June 29. Passengers can use WMATA’s web-based Ride Guide (www.rideguide.wmata.com) to calculate how the new fares will affect them.