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<TITLE>Public comment on WMATA's FY2020 budget</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Proposed Fare and Service Changes</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">• 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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">◦</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Extend Service</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Run all Yellow Line trains to Greenbelt instead of Fort Totten or Mt Vernon Sq.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Run Red Line trains to Glenmont during weekday peak hours and weekends instead of ending some trains at Silver Spring.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">◦</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Run All Eight-Car Trains</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Increase all trains to their maximum length of eight cars.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">• 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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">◦</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Enhance Pass Products</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Reduce the cost of the 7-Day Bus Pass from $17.50 to $15.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Cambria Math">◾</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Add unlimited local Metrobus trip to Metro's unlimited monthly rail pass, SelectPass, at no additional cost.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">◦</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Current Passes </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Cost </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">1-Day Rail Pass </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> $14.75 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">7-Day Short Trip Rail Pass </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> $38.50 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">7-Day Fast Rail Pass </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> $60.00 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Proposed Passes </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Cost </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">1-Day Rail + Bus Pass $13.00 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">3-Day Rail + Bus Pass </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> $28.00 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">7-Day Short-Trip Rail + Bus Pass </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> $38.00 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">7-Day Fast Rail Pass + Bus Pass $58.00 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">* Subject to change based on the General Manager's discretion to charge peak rail fares during peak service for regional events. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Capital Improvement Program and Strategic Plan</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Tell us what you think by 9:00 a.m. Monday, February 11, 2019:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Take the on-line survey and provide comments </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Attend an open house and public hearing at one of the following three locations: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Wednesday, January 30, 2019 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> The Durant Arts Center, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Open House at 6:00 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Thursday, January 31, 2019 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Greenbelt Library, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">11 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Open House at 6:00 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (rescheduled from January 29 due to weather) </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Metro Headquarters Building, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">600 5th St NW, Washington DC 20001 </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Open House at 5:30 p.m., Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> 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.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">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. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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