Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 8, 2008
Metro looks to defer some projects to pay for critical repairs
Agency still short of hundreds of millions of dollars for repairs and upgrades
More than $100 million in planned upgrades would be delayed to help pay for more critical repairs, Metro General Manager John Catoe told the transit agency’s Board Thursday.
Catoe detailed the agency’s plan to begin to pay for $489 million that officials announced in March is needed for critical repairs to maintain a safe and reliable rail, bus and paratransit system.
“We have reprioritized our capital projects and shifted funds to more pressing projects over the next two years,” Catoe said. “This will allow us to make immediate repairs on important projects, such as deteriorating platforms, worn out track fasteners to help prevent fires and water-damaged cables to help move trains,” Catoe said.
Much of the $109 million would come from reprioritizing rehabilitation projects, including elevators, escalators, parking lots, tracks, stations, tunnels and bridges.
“The work will still go on,” Catoe said. “But from a planning standpoint, some programs are slowing down to pay for others.”
Agency officials also plan to ask the Board for approval to borrow up to $48 million to help pay for the most critical projects. The $157 million generated from deferring projects and borrowing would keep the transit system in a state of good repair. Monies also would be spent on safety enhancements, upgrades to run more eight-car trains, MetroAccess vehicles and rail and information technology equipment. More than $12 million would be spent to comply with recommendations from safety oversight agencies for emergency door releases on the outside of railcars and equipment to automatically grease rail car wheels to prevent derailments.
“We still need $332 million over the next six years to pay for urgent capital needs, such as continued work on track and power upgrades needed for rail reliability, rehabilitating vaulted ceilings in stations and repaving several parking lots,” Catoe said. “In addition to that, we are identifying more needs that will be part of our 10 year capital improvement plan, which begins in 2010.”
Capital projects are paid for mainly by the state and local governments that are served by Metro in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Maryland, which also are facing budget shortfalls. Metro receives some federal money and is the only major transit system in the country that does not have a significant source of dedicated funding. Catoe is advocating for additional federal funding when the transportation bill comes up for reauthorization in Congress this fall. There also is a bill stalled in the Senate that would authorize $1.5 billion in federal funding over 10 years.
“It is critical that there is a renewed partnership from federal, state and local governments to support Metro operations and the ability of Metro to serve the nation’s capital and the region,” said Metro Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman, who represents Arlington County, Va.
News release issued at 1:25 pm, May 8, 2008.