Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 9, 2004
Metro’s 2006 proposed budget emphasizes safety, reliability, cleanliness and customer service improvements
No fare increases planned for the next two years
Under a package of proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 2006 submitted today to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Board Budget Committee, the region’s transit system will emphasize safety, reliability, enhanced cleanliness and improved customer service and outreach. The budget proposal also recommends no increases in fares for the next two budget years.
Metro General Manager/CEO Richard A. White today presented the proposed FY 2006 Operating and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets to the Board Budget Committee, which will review the proposals over the next six months. The full Board will make its final recommendations on the budget next June. The FY 2006 budget will take effect July 1, 2005. The budgets submitted today total $1.53 billion, greater than the current $1.31 FY 2005 budget. They include the Operating Budget ($1.015 billion), and CIP ($519 million), with $512 million in the CIP going to the Metro Matters Program approved by the local jurisdictions in October 2004.
"What does a $1 billion dollar budget do for our customers in fiscal year 2006" It continues to -provide a baseline of service that is the fourth largest in the United States, provides for expanded services and programs, recommends an approach to support system safety, enhance service reliability and system cleanliness, recommends methods to improve customer service and outreach all within approved budget subsidy guidance levels, and does all of this without a fare increase," said Mr. White.
In addition to a balanced budget proposal that meets policy guidance approved by Metro’s Board of Directors, Mr. White is recommending additional system improvements which are to be financed by favorable non-passenger revenue sources. These recommended improvements are in the following areas: SAFETY ($1 million)- Add 14 track inspectors for closer inspection of Metrorail track to enhance rail system performance and safety.
SERVICE RELIABILITY ($3 million)
- Add 10 maintenance personnel to complement the increase in track inspections.
- Add seven platform supervisors at major station transfer locations to aid in train loading, door and crowd management issues.
- Add 10 station managers to support high volume stations during peak weekdays and weekend "hot spots."
- Add two mechanics to improve the reliability of bus electronic destination signs. - Add support to ensure continuous service of the SmarTrip vending machines in rail stations.
- Add six janitors to improve the visibility of train arrival lighting fixtures and improve overall lighting conditions in rail stations. CLEANLINESS ($1.7 million)
- Double the staff assigned to clean rail cars at the ends of major rail lines.
- Add 10 cleaners to allow for frequent cleanings inside high volume stations.
- Create a second special project crew for special response cleaning needs at rail stations.
- Improve bus cleanliness by reducing the frequency of specialized interior bus cleanings from bi-weekly to weekly.
CUSTOMER SERVICE ($1.3 million)
- Add 16 positions to provide more efficient customer service and address increased customer complaints.
- Pair customer service personnel with front line operations personnel to respond to customer issues.
- Support town hall meeting and on-line internet discussions.
- Focus greater attention to improving response to letters and phone calls.
- Create a quality assurance program to monitor calls, e-mail and letters to ensure appropriate response and satisfaction.
In addition to customer service and reliability initiatives, Mr. White proposed to utilize $1.4 million from enhanced advertising programs already approved by the Board of Directors to:
IMPROVE PASSENGER INFORMATION DISPLAY SIGNS ($200,000)
- Install a remote monitoring system for the PIDS that go blank so that maintenance response actions can be accelerated.
INSTALL TRASH RECEPTACLES ON STATION PLATFORMS ($800,000)
- Re-deploy explosive resistant trash receptacles on rail station platforms and mezzanines to reduce trash accumulation.
ENHANCE CUSTOMER CALL PROCESSING ($400,000)
- Install an interactive voice recognition system for phone calls to provide for a more timely response to telephone calls and to better serve Spanish-speaking riders by adding a Spanish language capability to the Trip Planner voice recognition system.
"Through favorable returns in non-passenger revenue sources, we have identified $37 million in additional funding to support these enhancements," said Mr. White. "Through these improvements, we are telling our customers that we are refocused and dedicated to improving service reliability and customer service."
Among the proposed highlights in Metro’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget are:
Infrastructure Renewal Program
- Initial delivery of Metro’s 62 new Series 6000 rail cars. The cars are scheduled to begin arriving in fall 2005, will have a slightly redesigned interior seating arrangement, to improve passenger flow.
- Purchase 490 replacement buses.
- Continue rehabilitating older rail cars that are restored to "like-new" conditions.
- Continue rehabilitation of escalators and elevators.
- Continue to maintain passenger facilities in a state of good repair.
- Fund the $525 million in accumulating capital infrastructure deferrals.
Metro Matters Rail Program
- Procurement of 120 additional rail cars to support 33 percent eight car train operations.
- Continue maintenance and rail yard storage facility improvements.
- Continue system improvements including traction power to accommodate eight-car trains.
Metro Matters Bus Program
- Initiate procurement of up to 185 new buses for expanded service. - Design and construction of a new Metrobus maintenance facility.
- Improve bus passenger information systems and bus stops.
System Expansion Program/System Access Program
- Continue project development along the Dulles Rail Corridor.
- Construction is underway (previously funded) on two new parking structures at the College Park and New Carrollton stations. The structures are scheduled to open in late summer/early fall 2005. "Today’s budget proposal sends a clear message to our customers that we are focused on improving customer service and reliability, and improving the way we provide customer service and outreach," said Mr. White. "Over the last four years, we have reduced our operating budget by $80 million through a variety of cost containment actions. Today’s budget focuses on reprogramming available funds to meet our customers needs through safety, reliability, cleanliness, improved communications, and sustaining a high level of service."
News release issued on December 9, 2004.