Metro officials approved a $2.55 billion budget Thursday, shouldering a budget gap with extra taxpayer subsidies rather than any major cuts to rail service. The budget, which kicks in July 1, includes $1.48 billion for day-to-day operations and $1.03 billion in capital dollars for maintaining the system’s buses, stations, tracks and trains. Last year the agency had passed a budget that required riders to pay the heftiest fare increases in the agency’s history. This year, the agency had looked at extending wait times for trains. Instead, the board opted to fill a $66 million hole with extra subsidies. The budget does eliminate the N8 and K1 bus routes and includes a plan to change a discount for riders in Anacostia, which will require some bus riders to pay 50 to 70 cents more. — Kytja Weir
