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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) budget board recently approved a recommendation to change the authority’s fare structure and hours of operation in fiscal-year 2004.



Under the recommendation, Metrorail peak boarding charges and off-peak fares would increase 10 cents, the maximum peak-period fare, 35 cents, daily parking rates, 75 cents, and monthly parking rates, $20.



The fare increases are expected to help the authority overcome a $48 million budget shortfall.



The board also recommended extending late night weekend Metrorail service from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and opening the system one hour earlier on Saturday and Sundays.



The board is expected to finalize operational changes in June.