FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2025

Contact:
Anthony Field | Campaign Manager, Goodweather for DC
anthony@goodweatherfordc.com | 301.892.3165

Goodweather Unveils Fare-Free DC: A Plan to Eliminate Metro Fares for All Residents

Comprehensive policy proposal provides free Metrobus and Metrorail for 400,000 daily trips

Washington, D.C. — Gary Goodweather, DC business leader, U.S. Army veteran, long-time resident, and candidate for Mayor of Washington, D.C., today released Fare-Free DC, a comprehensive policy proposal to eliminate fares on all Metrobus and Metrorail services for District residents.

"Every year, we ask the people who make our city run—our teachers, healthcare workers, and service employees—to pay every time they move through the city they call home," stated Goodweather. "We provide roads, sidewalks, and bridges free at the point of use. It's time to do the same for transit."

The proposal eliminates fares for all DC residents, including students and people experiencing homelessness, while pairing fare elimination with investments in service reliability, frequency, and extended hours. Maryland and Virginia residents and tourists would continue paying standard fares.

Under the plan, Metrobus service would become free for DC residents within the first two years, with Metrorail following by the end of the first term. The program would serve 400,000 daily trips by DC residents and save regular transit users approximately $1,000 annually.

"This isn't a campaign slogan—we have a fleshed out proposal with detailed cost modeling, a diversified funding strategy, and a phased implementation plan," said Goodweather. "Washingtonians deserve leaders who are prepared to govern, not just campaign."

The $350-380 million annual program would be funded through a diversified revenue strategy, including telecommunications infrastructure revenue, congestion pricing, value capture from transit-adjacent development, and redirected traffic enforcement revenue, among other funding mechanisms. No single funding source would exceed 23% of total program costs.

The proposal notes that 84% of DC bus riders are DC residents, 60% are Black, and 68% have household incomes below $50,000. A 2018 study found that 91% of Metro fare evasion citations were issued to Black individuals, despite Black residents comprising 47% of DC's population.

A webpage with high-level details is currently live, with the full policy proposal and technical appendix to follow at goodweatherfordc.com/fare-free-dc.

Gary Goodweather for Mayor is a grassroots, Fair Elections campaign committed to building a safer, stronger, and more self-determined Washington, D.C.

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Paid for by Goodweather for DC, Malachy Nugent, Treasurer

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