New Metro budget plan has fewer cuts, higher fares

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.