Metro riders turned out in droves in the spring to protest major service cuts, testifying at public hearings, filling out online surveys and signing petitions. Their voices helped eliminate those proposed cuts, boost taxpayer subsidies and pave the way for major fare increases in the pending budget.
But as the transit agency is poised to host a public hearing Wednesday evening on Metro’s $709 million plan to maintain the aging system as part of the same budget, the response has been far quieter.
Three people had signed up to speak as of Tuesday afternoon, just over 24 hours before the event, according to Metro. No one had submitted written comments.
Want to go?
» What: Public hearing on Metro’s proposed $709 million capital budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
» When: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 2
» Where: Metro boardroom, Jackson Graham building, 600 Fifth St. NW. Accessible from the Judiciary Square or Gallery Place stops.
» WHO: Anyone can submit comments in Wednesday’s hearing. They also can submit written comments until 5 p.m., June 7, to [email protected] or faxed to 202-962-1133 or mailed to Office of the Secretary, WMATA, 600 Fifth Street NW; Washington D.C. 20001.
To be sure, the capital budget that begins July 1 doesn’t hit riders as viscerally as fare increases or service cuts. But the money keeps the system’s parts running, providing new trains and buses, while repairing the tracks and stations of the 34-year-old system.
This year the agency’s capital budget includes the first “dedicated funding” of $150 million from the federal government and $50 million each in local matches from Virginia, Maryland and the District. It will be the first step in a six-year budget plan for how to keep the Metro system in a “state of good repair,” a top priority of interim General Manager Richard Sarles.
This year the agency’s capital budget includes the first “dedicated funding” of $150 million from the federal government and $50 million each in local matches from Virginia, Maryland and the District. It will be the first step in a six-year budget plan for how to keep the Metro system in a “state of good repair,” a top priority of interim General Manager Richard Sarles.
Wednesday’s hearing marks an unusual chance for the public to speak out on how such money is used. Last year, the transit agency did not host a public hearing on that part of the budget, but this year the agency must do so because of the federal money, said Metro spokeswoman Angela Gates.
A large share of the pending budget money would pay for replacing and upgrading some of the system’s oldest rail cars, with some $79 million to replace some of the heavily criticized 1000 series rail cars, $72.9 to replace the air conditioning systems on other cars in that series and rehab the next model cars. Another $53 million would refurbish buses, while $91.6 million would repair portions of the Red and Blue lines.
The plan also includes $11.6 million in escalator and elevator repairs, $4.1 million to upgrade the power system to run more eight-car trains, and $1.4 million in bike improvements with replacement bike racks and lockers.
