Metro’s interim general manager is slated to present a new plan Thursday to close a $189 million budget gap, calling for raising fares, laying off workers and begging for more taxpayer subsidies — but making significantly fewer cuts to bus and train service.
Richard Sarles’ proposal comes after riders sounded off in public hearings, with 79 percent of the more than 1,800 comments opposed to cuts that would have trimmed scores of bus routes, cut all eight-car trains and ended late-night service on weekends.
Instead, Sarles plans to call for raising rail fares from the current minimum of $1.65 during peak hours to $1.95 and as much as $5 for the longest trips, according to a report to the board. Those riding during the busiest 90-minute periods during the morning and evening rushes would pay a 10-cent “peak-of-the-peak” surcharge. Bus fares would rise from $1.25 to $1.50 for SmarTrip farecard users.
But visitors and occasional riders would pay more: bus riders paying cash would need to cough up $1.60, while rail riders using paper fare cards would pay an extra 25 cents per transaction. Parking would cost 50 cents more.
Sarles is proposing to scale back transit service, making $8 million in cuts — far less than the more than $30 million initially proposed.
He is calling for closing the rail system at 2 a.m., not 3 a.m. on weekends, with riders paying a flat $4 fare for late-night service regardless of the trip length, the plan shows. He would close four station entrances after 8 p.m. on weekdays and eight more on weekends. The plan would limit service around holidays, such as the day after Thanksgiving, and lengthen the waits for trains between 6 and 6:30 a.m. by two minutes.
The agency would charge more for MetroAccess trips outside of a 3/4-mile corridor of bus and rail routes but would not eliminate the service.
Metro would make up the difference by borrowing $60 million from the capital budget for maintenance, which the agency says is “anticipated to be paid back” with extra fare revenue that comes in each quarter.
The agency also plans to request $26 million more from local jurisdictions, a 5 percent increase from the current budget but far short of the nearly $74 million that advocates sought. The District and Prince George’s County would bear the brunt with an additional $11.9 million and $9.1, respectively.
Sarles also wants to cut a 1-percent salary increase for non-union employees and slash 313 positions. He suggests adding $6.9 million for expected safety improvements, additional drug testing and suicide prevention.
Board members will be asked to approve the changes next week.
