<div dir="ltr">Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends,<div>FYI, this is another reminder about the WMATA meetings . Please submit your concerns , recommendations . If you need assistance, please let me know before Thursday .. I will try to attend Tuesday 's open house.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Deborah via MD-Sligo</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:md-sligo@nfbnet.org">md-sligo@nfbnet.org</a>></span><br>Date: Sun, Mar 5, 2023 at 3:39 PM<br>Subject: [MD-Sligo] WMATA budget hearings<br>To: Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland <<a href="mailto:md-sligo@nfbnet.org">md-sligo@nfbnet.org</a>><br>Cc: Deborah <<a href="mailto:deborahb14@verizon.net">deborahb14@verizon.net</a>>, <<a href="mailto:tomvab@msn.com">tomvab@msn.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:ivandyhelp@gmail.com">ivandyhelp@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:metmku@gmail.com">metmku@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:jpaukward@gmail.com">jpaukward@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:brotherjaysdetailing@gmail.com">brotherjaysdetailing@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:eitington@gmail.com">eitington@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:kiandra0997@gmail.com">kiandra0997@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:atorres@torresfoundation.org">atorres@torresfoundation.org</a>>, <<a href="mailto:smrtypantz301@gmail.com">smrtypantz301@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:victormurrana@gmail.com">victormurrana@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:sdj60259@aol.com">sdj60259@aol.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:hikma061416@gmail.com">hikma061416@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:gjeandron@gmail.com">gjeandron@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:kflores@keniaflores.com">kflores@keniaflores.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:bobbybobo1@comcast.net">bobbybobo1@comcast.net</a>>, <<a href="mailto:mcarpentersv@gmail.com">mcarpentersv@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:adelriego135@gmail.com">adelriego135@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:mpminyem@gmail.com">mpminyem@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:alfreeman2@verizon.net">alfreeman2@verizon.net</a>>, <<a href="mailto:drush301@outlook.com">drush301@outlook.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:nerimundle@icloud.com">nerimundle@icloud.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:2reachmichael.g.clark@gmail.com">2reachmichael.g.clark@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:jlwsamuel@gmail.com">jlwsamuel@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:kikelly53@verizon.net">kikelly53@verizon.net</a>>, <<a href="mailto:dontee.wl8@gmail.com">dontee.wl8@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:sadiqa425@gmail.com">sadiqa425@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:toothmanjanice@gmail.com">toothmanjanice@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:barbara.goodwyn@gmail.com">barbara.goodwyn@gmail.com</a>>, <<a href="mailto:raniadima@gmail.com">raniadima@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><u></u>
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<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"> <font face="Calibri">The announcement I sent out before did not contain all of the informatio</font></span><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">n. Here is the complete announcement.</font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Debbie</font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Metro invites community to attend proposed FY24 budget public hearings starting Monday, March 6</font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Starting next week, customers and the general public have four opportunities to publicly provide feedback on Metro’s Fiscal Year (FY 24) 2024 budget proposal. All are invited to participate in person, via video or via telephone. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Below are details for each hearing date: </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Monday, March 6, 2023, 6 p.m. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Metro Headquarters, 300 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Nearest Metro station: L’Enfant (Green, Blue, Orange and Silver lines). </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Metro staff will be available at 5 p.m. for an open house. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 6 p.m. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">New Carrollton Metro Offices, 4100 Garden City Dr., Hyattsville, MD 20785 </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Nearest Metro station: New Carrollton (Blue+, Orange) </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Metro staff will be available at 5 p.m. for an open house. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 6 p.m. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043 </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Nearest Metro station: West Falls Church (Orange) - Shuttle to/from hearing location provided, beginning at 4:45 p.m. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Metro staff will be available at 5 p.m. for an open house. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Friday, March 10, 2023, Noon </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Virtual only (via telephone or video); no open house </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"> All locations are accessible via Metrorail or Metrobus. </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">The community is also encouraged to take our survey, provide written comments and upload documents at <a href="http://wmata.com/budget" target="_blank">wmata.com/budget</a> by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023. </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">About the proposed FY24 budget: </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">The $4.8 billion capital and operating budget proposal supports Metro’s continued commitment to enhance #YourMetro customer experience by providing safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable service by creating a more simplified and equitable fare system, optimizing the frequency of Metrobus and Metrorail services and increasing public safety throughout the transit system. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">The proposed budget also incorporates the implementation of the new Low-Income Fare Program which offers a discount on Metrorail and Metrobus trips to eligible customers; launching of Better Bus Network Redesign, opening of new Potomac Yard station and sustainability-focused investments. </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">Additionally, Metro continues to prioritize major construction and maintenance projects to ensure safe and reliable transportation for our customers </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">How to Participate: </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">In-Person: Advance registration is encouraged, though not required. To register in advance, email <a href="mailto:speak@wmata.com" target="_blank">speak@wmata.com</a> or call (202) 962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing. You can also register on-site. </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">By video: To participate via video, advance registration is required. Register by emailing <a href="mailto:speak@wmata.com" target="_blank">speak@wmata.com</a> by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing at which you want to speak. We will send a link you can use to participate. </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">By phone: To participate by phone: call 855-925-2801 during the public hearing, enter meeting code 7756, and press *3 to be placed into the speaker queue. No advance registration is available for those participating by phone. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">If you do not want to provide testimony but still want to watch or listen to the public hearings, you may watch or listen to the public hearings live at YouTube.com/MetroForward and <a href="http://wmata.com/budget" target="_blank">wmata.com/budget</a> or by calling 855-925-2801, meeting code 7756. Video of the hearings will also be archived at YouTube.com/MetroForward. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font face="Calibri">Public feedback will be provided to Metro's Board of Directors as part of the final decision-making process. If approved by the Board, changes will be implemented during the FY24 budget period which begins in July 2023. In order to maximize service levels when the Yellow Line reopens, some changes will be implemented in May 2023.</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
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