[Md-sligo] Public comment on WMATA's FY2020 budget

[Deborah]

Metro's proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget totals $3.4 billion and remains grounded in the General Manager's commitment to provide a better ride, better convenience and better value for the region.

The budget proposal identifies efficiencies needed to limit the amount paid by the jurisdictions, as required by law, while also reflecting anticipated ridership and revenue losses. In light of these realities, Metro's proposed budget prioritizes safety and compliance, system preservation and state of good repair, and improvements to the customer experience, along with other efforts to increase ridership.

Metro's Board of Directors must consider all options to move Metro beyond "Back2Good" and make the system better than good. By providing your feedback on the various options being considered, Metro's Board of Directors and General Manager will be informed about what customers like you believe will get us there.

Proposed Fare and Service Changes
• Proposed Rail Service Adjustments. The following service adjustments have been proposed by Metro to deliver better service to current riders and attract new customers. ◦ Expand Weekday Peak Service Times ◾Change the hours of peak service to 5:00-10:00 a.m. and 3:00-8:30 p.m. This schedule would add 30 minutes to peak service in the morning and 90 minutes in the evening. Peak fares would be in effect.

◦ Extend Service ◾Run all Yellow Line trains to Greenbelt instead of Fort Totten or Mt Vernon Sq.
◾Run Red Line trains to Glenmont during weekday peak hours and weekends instead of ending some trains at Silver Spring.

◦ Run All Eight-Car Trains ◾Increase all trains to their maximum length of eight cars.


• Proposed Fare Adjustments. The following fare adjustments have been proposed by Metro to provide a better value to customers and encourage additional ridership. ◦ Implement a $2 Weekend Flat Fare on Metrorail ◾Any Metrorail trip on Saturday or Sunday would cost $2, regardless of distance.* For eligible senior citizens and people with disabilities, the cost would be $1.

◦ Enhance Pass Products ◾Reduce the cost of the 7-Day Bus Pass from $17.50 to $15.
◾Add unlimited local Metrobus trip to Metro's unlimited monthly rail pass, SelectPass, at no additional cost.

◦Introduce an updated series of passes by adjusting the current 1-Day, 7-Day Short-Trip and 7-Day Fast Rail Passes and introducing a new 3-Day Pass. Each proposed pass includes unlimited local Metrobus trips.


Current Passes 
 Cost  
1-Day Rail Pass 
 $14.75 
7-Day Short Trip Rail Pass 
 $38.50 
7-Day Fast Rail Pass 
 $60.00 
    
Proposed Passes 
 Cost  
1-Day Rail + Bus Pass $13.00 
3-Day Rail + Bus Pass 
 $28.00 
7-Day Short-Trip Rail + Bus Pass 
 $38.00 
7-Day Fast Rail Pass + Bus Pass $58.00 

* Subject to change based on the General Manager's discretion to charge peak rail fares during peak service for regional events. 


Capital Improvement Program and Strategic Plan

As part of the budget, Metro's Capital Budget invests $1.4 billion into safety and reliability improvements, rebuilding the Metro system, and improving the effectiveness of the current rail and bus network. The vast majority of the planned investments advance the safety, rehabilitation and replacement of Metro's infrastructure, facilities, equipment, systems, railcars, buses, and paratransit vehicles. This includes modernization of the fare collection equipment; station renovations like brighter lights, new platforms and escalator replacements; parking garage rehabilitations, and other customer improvements.

Metro's budget is built upon its strategic plan: Keeping Metro Safe, Reliable and Affordable. This plan, originally presented to the Board of Directors in 2017, has been updated to specifically address recommendations from former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. It focuses on Metro's safety, reliability and fiscal accountability, as well as efforts to move Metro toward a sustainable operating model.

Tell us what you think by 9:00 a.m. Monday, February 11, 2019:

Take the on-line survey and provide comments 


Attend an open house and public hearing at one of the following three locations: 

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 
 The Durant Arts Center, 
1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 
Open House at 6:00 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, January 31, 2019 
 Greenbelt Library, 
11 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770 
Open House at 6:00 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (rescheduled from January 29 due to weather) 
 Metro Headquarters Building, 
600 5th St NW, Washington DC 20001 
Open House at 5:30 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m. 

 Public feedback will be provided to Metro's Board of Directors in March 2019 as part of the final decision-making process. Any Board-approved fare or service changes will begin on or about July 1, 2019.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, disability or family status. If you require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or translation services (free of charge), contact the project team at 202-962-2511 (TTY: 202-962- 2033) at least 48 hours prior to the public hearing date. 

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