Crisis averted, fares hiked: What Metro’s new budget means for riders

After months of financial challenges and threats to shutter rail stations and bus lines, Metro has a new budget that avoids catastrophic service cuts.

But it still comes at a cost to riders.

The transit agency’s board passed a $4.8 billion budget last week for the coming fiscal year that will maintain rail and bus service levels but raise fares by 12.5 percent.