The mechanics tasked with maintaining the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's chronically broken escalators start at $81,000 a year. Bus driver pay goes as high as $114,000 for anyone with a driver's license and a GED.
Metro will consider offering New York City-style unlimited monthly passes in concert with fare increases after its board of directors expressed concern Thursday that riders are too dissatisfied with the rail system's performance to pay more without new incentives.
The Metro Board on Thursday discussed a 5-cent surcharge for rail riders coming and going from some of the transit system's heavily traveled rail stations, especially Union Station in the District, in an effort to fund capital improvements.
