An online survey to get public input on how the transit agency should close a $189 million budget gap in fiscal year 2011 is also available. To take the survey go here.
The public is invited to provide input on a number of proposals to balance the budget, which include a combination of fare increases, Metrorail and Metrobus service reductions, changes to the MetroAccess fare structure and service area allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act, departmental and staff reductions, additional contributions from the jurisdictions that fund Metro, and the use of capital funds to pay for preventive maintenance.
In addition to the General Manager’s proposed budget, Metro is including suggestions from the Riders’Advisory Council, other rider groups and ATU Local 689 for the public’s consideration during the hearings. More detailed information about the proposals will be posted on Metro’s Web site, http://www.wmata.com/, with the public hearing docket in mid-March.
Open House 6:30 pm; Meeting at 7:00 pm
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Cafeteria
101 Monroe Street (entrance on Jefferson Street)
Rockville, MD
Directions can be found here.
Proposals to balance the budget include the widest array of options possible to help the Board of Directors get the public input they need before they make a final decision on the budget in June. Not all of the options presented are necessary to balance the budget. Any proposed fare increases, service reductions and changes to MetroAccess service would start June 27, 2010.
Possible fare increases being considered for FY2011 include:
• Increasing the Metrorail peak period boarding charge from $1.65 to up to $2;
• Increasing the Metrorail maximum peak period fare from $4.50 to up to $5:45;
• Implementing a surcharge of up to 50 cents for “peak-of-the-peak” trips from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m. weekdays;
• Increasing the Metrorail off-peak boarding charge from $1.35 to up to $1.65;
• Increasing Metrorail and Metrobus passes so the price is consistent with boarding charges;
• Increasing the Metrobus boarding charge from $1.25 to up to $1.60 with SmarTrip® and from $1.35 to up to $1.70 with cash;
• Increasing the MetroAccess fare to up to twice the comparable fixed route fare;
• Increasing all daily parking rates by up to $1.15; and
• Increasing the bicycle locker yearly rental fee from $70 to up to $200.
Service reductions being considered for FY2011 include:
• Making seasonal adjustments to service to meet demand;
• Increasing intervals between trains and buses;
• Closing some station mezzanines and rail stations during periods of low ridership (such as weekends or late at night);
• Beginning rail service later in the mornings;
• Modifying late-night rail and bus service; and
• Eliminating some low-ridership bus routes or portions of routes.
Changes to MetroAccess service being considered for FY2011 include:
• Reducing the MetroAccess service area (within Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines) to reflect actual fixed-route bus and rail service areas reflecting the actual time, day and location;
• Charging a premium for service provided to locations beyond the ¾-mile corridor around fixed-route services. The premium for zones would be up to $5 for zone 1, up to $10 for zone 2, up to $15 for zone 3 and up to $20 for zone 4;
• Aligning the MetroAccess fare structure to the maximum allowed under the ADA definition, which is twice the equivalent of fixed-route fare; and
• Restricting the use of the Free Ride Program to only those MetroAccess certified persons with conditional eligibility.
To establish a witness list for the public hearings, individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to be heard at the hearings 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 the hearing number. 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 two 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 the hearing number. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 6.
Paula B.
