Metro News Release
For immediate release: June 19, 2003
Metro’s Board of Directors approves Fiscal Year 2004 budget
Budget includes 10-cent base increase for Metrorail and Metrobus and expanded weekend service
Today, the Metro Board of Directors approved the fiscal year 2004 operating and capital program budgets. (The 2004 fiscal year starts July 1, 2003, and concludes June 30, 2004.) The operating budget totals $899.8 million; it provides for passenger and non-passenger revenues of $487.3 million and a subsidy requirement from the local jurisdictions of $412.5 million. The Capital Improvement Program budget was approved by the Board at a mark of $335 million. This includes $308 million for the Infrastructure Renewal Program (IRP) to rehabilitate facilities and replace equipment in the existing bus and rail system; $8 million for the System Access/Capacity Program to provide facilities and equipment, such as parking garages to accommodate ridership growth; and $19 million for the System Expansion Program to provide extensions to the existing rail system and new bus service. Overall, these budgets represent $1.2 billion, and will fund 10,018 positions at Metro. The final FY 2004 budget calls for the first fare increase in eight years -- a base 10 cent increase on Metrorail and Metrobus. However, existing rail and bus service levels for the next year are preserved and weekend Metrorail service will expand by four additional hours per week. Among the key highlights from the operating budget for FY 2004 are:
- Increase the regular base fare on Metrorail and Metrobus to $1.20.
- Expand weekend Metrorail service, opening at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and closing at 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Increase police coverage and presence by adding 33 police officers.
- Reduce expenses by $24 million, primarily by eliminating "white collar" management positions.
- Rollout new Metrobus fareboxes with SmarTrip capability.
- Continue implementation of the 5000 series rail car fleet to increase rail car capacity and help relieve crowding.
- Expand paratransit services to meet increased demand.
- Set aside $6 million to improve elevator and escalator reliability.
- Continue CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) implementation, which includes the purchase of additional buses and accompanying facilities ($36.8 million).
- Continue the rehabilitation program in which older Breda rail cars will be restored to "like-new" conditions ($11.5 million).
- Continue to overhaul and rehabilitation of escalator and elevators ($73.4 million).
- Continue to maintain passenger facilities in a state of good repair ($32.1 million).
- Fully fund the Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure the rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure ($275 million);
- Obtain funds to pursue available options to add 120 rail cars, as well as ancillary facilities and equipment to operate and maintain these vehicles, and begin operating eight-car trains ($625 million); and
- Obtain funds to purchase 185 buses and associated facilities ($171 million).
News release issued on June 19, 2003.