Metro fares will increase this weekend. Here’s what to know.

Metro fares will increase this weekend. Here’s what to know.

Metro riders will see higher fares beginning Sunday, in a move meant to bridge budget gaps and avoid catastrophic service cuts.

Fares for Metro’s rail and bus services will increase by 12.5 percent, after seven years without a major fare hike. Here’s a full breakdown of the fare changes.

The base rail and bus fares will increase from $2 to $2.25, and the maximum rail fare will increase from $6 to $6.75. Late-night and weekend fares on Metrorail will rise from a $2 flat charge to between $2.25 and $2.50, depending on trip distance. The fare for Metrobus Express — expedited, limited-stop bus service along select routes — will rise from $4.25 to $4.80.

MetroAccess, a paratransit service for people who cannot use bus and rail systems, will increase maximum fees from $4 to $4.50.

The cost of a monthly rail pass will increase by 12.5 percent, from between $64 and $192 (based on ride distance) to between $72 and $216.

Metro will also charge 5 cents an hour for bicycle lockers, up to $1 per day, replacing a system of annual leases. Parking fees will not change.

These are Metro’s first significant fare hikes since 2017. Last year, the tri-jurisdictional transit agency implemented a modest increase to its distance-based rail rates.

In December, Metro warned of possible doomsday service cuts amid a looming $750 million deficit. In February, the agency announced that it had managed to plug the funding hole and stave off service cuts with a $480 million investment from D.C., Maryland and Virginia, as well as through fare hikes, though it warned of future funding hurdles.

The Metro budget supported by the increased fares will largely be used to maintain bus and rail service levels throughout the transit system and pay its roughly 12,000 employees, though the agency also wants to pursue improvement projects like rail car upgrades and bus fleet conversions from gas and hybrid to electric vehicles.

Earlier this month, Metro shuttered five Red Line stations for maintenance and construction work. The Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will remain closed until Aug. 31. The Takoma station, though, will reopen Friday — two days ahead of schedule — Metro announced Wednesday.