Local
Metro looks to close $154M budget gap, may stop bus routes, late-night rail
By: Kytja Weir
Examiner Staff Writer
February 6, 2009
Metro is considering scrapping its 3 a.m. rail service on weekends and stopping its weekday trains at 10 p.m. as the transit agency considers how to bridge a $154 million budget gap.
It also is looking at closing some rail station entrances and eliminating some low-performing bus routes, Metro officials told The Examiner.
One idea discussed has even called for Metro cutting all its local bus routes — meaning the buses that operate solely within one jurisdiction rather than crossing from county to county — according to Jim Graham, Metro’s chairman and a D.C. councilman. The local communities would pick up those lines where possible with local bus services such as the Fairfax Connector and the D.C. Circulator.
No cuts to the transit agency’s rail and bus service have been finalized — or even publicly discussed. Next week, Metro officials expect to discuss a preliminary analysis of potential cuts from a regional advisory group. Then the system must hold public hearings on any trims.
But Metro officials have said they need to cut $87 million from its current service if they don’t raise fares or receive extra subsidies from local jurisdictions. And General Manager John Catoe has said any service cuts likely would need to occur as early as July, the beginning of the next fiscal year, to recoup the savings.
Metro officials also have proposed cutting 891 jobs from the more than 10,000-strong work force. About half those positions are vacant, but the first round of firings could come as early as this month.
The tight economic forecast comes even as a record number of people have been riding the system’s trains and buses.
Still, several Metro board members have told The Examiner they hope to look at more cost-cutting measures on the administrative side before discussing cutting rail and bus service.
“The last thing we really want to do is cut service. That’s not what we are all about,” First Vice Chairman Peter Benjamin said. “We do any service reductions only if we can’t see any other reasonable way out.”
Last week, Metro officials told the board they had overestimated some personnel costs by $22 million, thus lowering the budget gap from $176 million to $154 million. Board officials say they hope to find more savings.
“I’m not satisfied that we are done scrubbing the budget yet,” Graham said Thursday.
It also is looking at closing some rail station entrances and eliminating some low-performing bus routes, Metro officials told The Examiner.
One idea discussed has even called for Metro cutting all its local bus routes — meaning the buses that operate solely within one jurisdiction rather than crossing from county to county — according to Jim Graham, Metro’s chairman and a D.C. councilman. The local communities would pick up those lines where possible with local bus services such as the Fairfax Connector and the D.C. Circulator.
No cuts to the transit agency’s rail and bus service have been finalized — or even publicly discussed. Next week, Metro officials expect to discuss a preliminary analysis of potential cuts from a regional advisory group. Then the system must hold public hearings on any trims.
But Metro officials have said they need to cut $87 million from its current service if they don’t raise fares or receive extra subsidies from local jurisdictions. And General Manager John Catoe has said any service cuts likely would need to occur as early as July, the beginning of the next fiscal year, to recoup the savings.
Metro officials also have proposed cutting 891 jobs from the more than 10,000-strong work force. About half those positions are vacant, but the first round of firings could come as early as this month.
The tight economic forecast comes even as a record number of people have been riding the system’s trains and buses.
Still, several Metro board members have told The Examiner they hope to look at more cost-cutting measures on the administrative side before discussing cutting rail and bus service.
“The last thing we really want to do is cut service. That’s not what we are all about,” First Vice Chairman Peter Benjamin said. “We do any service reductions only if we can’t see any other reasonable way out.”
Last week, Metro officials told the board they had overestimated some personnel costs by $22 million, thus lowering the budget gap from $176 million to $154 million. Board officials say they hope to find more savings.
“I’m not satisfied that we are done scrubbing the budget yet,” Graham said Thursday.
