Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 7, 2010
Metro sets public hearing on options to close FY2010 budget gap
Options include increased fare by up to 10 cents per trip, service reductions
Metro will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 27, to get public input on a variety of options for how the transit agency should close a $40 million budget gap in the current fiscal year that is largely due to lower than expected ridership and passenger revenues.
Much of the loss in ridership is a result of the economic recession, and Metro’s experience is not unlike other transit agencies. Nationally, total transit ridership is down compared to the same period last year.
“Year to date, average weekday rail ridership is almost 2.5 percent below last year’s levels and more than 5 percent below budget,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “Bus ridership is almost 6 percent below last fiscal year and 12 percent below budget.”
In an effort to address this year’s $40 million budget shortfall, Metro needs to generate additional passenger revenue and reduce costs. Some cost-reduction measures mean service cuts, and Metro is considering altering some bus routes, reducing hours of service for both Metrobus and Metrorail, and making minor service changes to Metrobus and Metrorail service. A possible fare surcharge of up to 10 cents also is being discussed. Additionally, consideration is being given to capitalizing the purchase of various parts and using capital funding for eligible costs of preventive maintenance.
Metro will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, at Metro Headquarters, 600 5th Street, NW, to seek comment from the public on the following proposals:
1. Increasing the fare for all Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess trips by up to 10 cents per trip. The cost of all passes also would increase to account for this change.
2. Possible cuts to the span of service on Metrorail, including:
• Opening the Metrorail system one hour later on Saturdays and Sundays;
• Opening the Metrorail system 30 minutes later on weekdays; and
• Closing the Metrorail system one hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Restructuring bus service on the following bus lines:
• 16A,B,D,E,F,J,P Columbia Pike Line in Virginia;
• 52, 53, 54 14th Street Line in the District of Columbia;
• 80 North Capitol Street Line in the District of Columbia;
• J1 Bethesda–Silver Spring Line in Maryland; and
• N2,4,6 Massachusetts Avenue Line in the District of Columbia.
4. Minor adjustments to intervals between Metrobuses and Metrorail trains during rush hours and non-rush hours weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
5. Closing a few Metrorail station entrances on weeknights and weekends where alternate entrances at the same stations are available.
In addition, Metro is interested in public comments weighing the use of capital dollars for preventive maintenance and parts against a larger fare increase and/or greater service modifications or a reduction in other capital projects.
More detailed information about the proposals will be posted on Metro’s Web site, www.wmata.com, with the public hearing docket in mid-January.
To establish a witness list, individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to be heard at this public hearing are asked to provide in writing their name, address, telephone number and organization affiliation, if any, to Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Alternatively, requests to speak may be faxed to 202-962-1133 or e-mailed to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com. Please submit only one speaker’s name per letter and reference Hearing Number 547. Lists of individual speakers will not be accepted. Others present at the hearing may be heard after people who have registered have spoken. Public officials will be heard first and will be allowed five minutes each to make their presentations. All other speakers will be allowed three minutes each. Relinquishing of time by one speaker to another will not be permitted.
Written statements and exhibits may be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, or e-mailed to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com. Please reference Hearing Number 547. Submissions must be received by the close of the hearing on Wednesday, January 27.
Any possible service reductions or fare increase would take effect on or about March 1 and only apply through June 30, which is the end of Metro’s fiscal year 2010. Additional public hearings related to Metro’s fiscal year 2011 budget are likely later this spring as Metro grapples with a projected $175 million budget deficit.
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Media contact for this news release: Angela Gates or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 6:05 pm, January 7, 2010.