[NationalHarbor] Fwd: FW: WMATA Board Budget Hearings URGENT

[Amber Woods]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <colesve at comcast.net>
Date: Mon, Jan 17, 2022 at 12:46 PM
Subject: FW: WMATA Board Budget Hearings URGENT
To: <colesve at comcast.net>
Cc: <colesve at comcast.net>


Good Afternoon Alcon,



FYI



*From:* pposner at comcast.net <pposner at comcast.net>
*Sent:* Friday, January 14, 2022 10:12 AM
*To:* Sharma, Anu C. <acsharma at wmata.com>; elarsy at hotmail.com;
darnise.bush at dc.gov; fcalabia36 at gmail.com; coneyshomesolutions at gmail.com;
melanie.jackson at ymail.com; zzask at yahoo.com; pkmezile at rcn.com; Anthony Oberg
<anthony.oberg at gmail.com>; DorisR at ecnv.org; blkteachmd at aol.com; Patrick,
Sheehan <pat.sheehan1 at verizon.net>; kelley.simoneaux at gmail.com; Vanessa <
colesve at comcast.net>; Denise Rush <Drush301 at outlook.com>; Deborah Fisher <
deborahmfisher at gmail.com>; Marcie Goldstein <marcie.b.goldstein at gmail.com>;
thomas.mangrum39 at gmail.com; rdancy0382 at gmail.com; PHILIP POSNER <
pposner at comcast.net>
*Subject:* Re: WMATA Board Budget Hearings URGENT



At the 1/13/2022 Board Committee meetings the following important issues
were accomplished:

1. New Board Member from Md, Mr. Ports the new Md Secretary of Transportion
sworn in as 2nd vice chair of the Board.

2. *Three public Hearings on the Budget will be held February 7, 8, and 9
in a combined virtual and in person format. There will also be in person
and on line surveys between now and then.*



3. Items on the proposed FY2023 Budget Docket for discussion relevant to
the AAC for us and our constituents to speak on:


FY2023 Operating Budget

Service Proposals
The FY2023 budget funds current service levels that went into effect on
September 5, 2021, as well as provide funding for Silver Line Phase 2
revenue service, Potomac Yard Station opening and additional equity-based
service improvements in calendar year 2022. Furthermore, service changes
that were adopted by the Board on June 10, 2021 (Resolution 2021-22) are
included to carryover into the next year. Those changes include the
following:
Bus Service Improvements
Metrobus Frequent Service on 20 lines all day at improved frequencies
of:20 bus lines with 12 minutes or better service, 7am to 9pm, seven
days a week
Additional improvements
16 bus lines with 20 minutes or better service, 7am to 9pm, seven
days a week
Service restored or improved on an additional 46 bus routes
Rail Service Improvements
All six rail lines with improved all day and peak frequencies
10 minutes or better peak
12 minutes or better all day
15 minutes or better late night
Rail system open longer
Summer 2021: Extend hours to midnight, seven days a week
Fall 2021: Extend hours to 1 am on Friday and Saturday; Sunday
opening to match Saturday
Fare Proposals
Carryover FY2022 fare proposals:
Recommends continuation of the following fare changes: free rail-bus
transfers
($2 transfer discount); lower 7-Day Regional Bus Pass price ($12 from $15);
and rail weekend $2 flat fares as approved in September 2021. In addition,
the following additional pandemic fare discounts are recommended for Board
of Directors consideration:
$2 Late Night Rail Fare
To support late-night workers and the late-night economy, Metrorail fares
would be a flat $2 for one-way trips from 9:30 pm until close. This
benefits late-night workers and encourages use of the system during less
busy hours.



4. Suggested Talking Points:

A. Support the following Board Fare Policy objectives:

Fares should be:

.Customer Focused
.Simple and Convenient
.Make it simple, intuitive, and convenient for customers to purchase
fares and take transit
.Equitable
Maintain equitable fares and practices that promote broad access to
regional mobility
.Maximize ridership while ensuring adequate revenue and cost
efficiency to sustain service

B. Support Flat fare for MetroAccess that is fair, sustainable and is
within FTA guidelines.

Currently and in the 2023 Budget proposal MAC fares would be flat $4 on
weekends and after 9PM 7 days/week to mirror Bus/Rail Flat Fares.

By extending MAC Flat Fares to everyday all day they would become
equitable, understandable, simple and convenient as well improving WMATA
efficiency in scheduling and reducing WMATA cost. A win-win proposal for
WMATA and MAC customers.



Please recruit your friends and constituents to speak to these points at
the hearings. Anu can help you prepare and submit written comments and/or
recordings for the hearings.



Cheers,



At Your Service

Vanessa
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