Two local officials took prominent steps Thursday in pushing for higher subsidies of Metro as the agency eyes drastic service cuts and fare increases to close an $189 million budget gap.
But their efforts may not amount to much as Maryland officials have told Metro they aren’t even able to pay nearly $29 million already committed to the agency, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley told Metro the state cannot pay $28.7 million due this year toward the transit agency’s capital fund until 2012. “Unfortunately, due to the economic recession, revenues supporting Maryland’s Transportation Trust Fund have declined by 13 percent since 2007,” the letter said, which has forced the state to reduce or defer 250 projects worth $2.1 billion.
The letter calls into question the state’s ability to boost its subsidy of Metro’s operating budget — and other regional officials say they are willing to increase their share of Metro’s budget only if all jurisdictions contribute.
D.C. Councilman Jim Graham told his fellow council members and Mayor Adrian Fenty on Thursday that they ought to increase the District’s subsidy.
“We’re going to work as hard as we can on this because I want to avoid fare hikes and service cuts,” Graham, a Metro board member, later told the Washington Examiner.
Meanwhile, Arlington County Board member Christopher Zimmerman, also on Metro’s board, was the first elected official to join the grassroots Fair Share For Metro campaign, which is calling for an additional $73.7 million from the jurisdictions that Metro services.
“It’s not chump change,” he said before handing out fliers outside the Rosslyn station during the start of the afternoon rush. “On the other hand, this is a really vital service.”
Metro has asked jurisdictions to pay the same amount next year that they contributed this year: about $574 million in the current $1.36 billion operating budget, plus additional funds for long-term infrastructure projects. Such local subsidies are needed because riders’ fares typically cover just 68 percent of the cost of each train trip and 24 percent of each Metrobus ride.
Arlington County is among several jurisdictions that have discussed the possibility of raising taxes to boost their subsidy. But no commitments have been made.
“In my opinion, if the other jurisdictions could come up with their fair share, Arlington could come up with it,” Zimmerman said.
Staff Writer Michael Neibauer contributed to this report.
