Posts tagged Budget
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Logjam at the WMATA Board, part 1: The unfair formula
Two weeks ago, the WMATA Board seemed very close to a consensus on the operating budget after Interim GM Sarles took the lead and proposed a new budget. Yesterday, the budget meeting devolved into fractious fighting over parking fees and late-night fares. What happened? Two things happened. First, the inequitable funding formula penalizes DC for decisions over parking prices… Keep reading…
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Change the Metrorail formula to change incentives
The current Metrorail subsidy formula does not reward jurisdictions for increasing ridership at their stations. Revenues from increased ridership get spread out across the system, while costs are concentrated. By changing how we calculate each jurisdiction’s share, we can change the incentives. That will encourage jurisdictions to better use the land around… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Fighting transit, paying for roads
Streetcars on the TV; thecranks@dcwatch; Barnes Dance barn dance; Community, students won’t stop UMD anti-transit stance; Virginia can’t afford new freeways; Tysons “piecemeal” street grid?; And…. Keep reading…
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Metro parking prices should reflect crowding
At some Metrorail stations, the existing parking lots are never fully utilized, while at other stations, the spaces fill up quickly, leaving commuters unable to find a space. Keep reading…
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WMATA Board discussing budget, NextBus, and more today
I’ll be live-Tweeting today’s WMATA Board meeting. This morning, the Finance and Administration Committee will debate the operating budget and next Metro Matters agreement. There will then be an executive session followed by a special full Board meeting (PDF) to announce an executive search firm for the General Manager search and discuss the recent near-miss… Keep reading…
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MetroAccess cuts remain
While many transit advocates breathed a collective sigh of relief when they learned that WMATA Interim General Manager Sarles’ FY2011 proposed operating budget included far fewer service cuts than were originally outlined in former General Manager Catoe’s proposed budget, several significant service cuts remain, including cuts to MetroAccess. Here is what… Keep reading…
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What do Metro employees really make?
WMATA provided data about employee salaries, bonuses, overtime and benefits for fiscal year 2009. Is the $100,000 bus driver a myth, or reality? Does Metro depend on a lot of overtime? Are bonuses incredibly high, or used primarily as a symbolic recognition of a job well done? Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Bikes, cars, hate and crime
Parking dispute turns into arrow shooting; Charges coming for Oxon Hill crash; Bike hate in the B’s; Private trolleys once again?; WMATA back in the hole; Ride On back on, parking fees off; Pro-transit on the purple route. Keep reading…
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Proposed Metro Matters much better, but with a loophole?
Maryland has announced they will pay their share of capital money under Metro Matters for FY 2010 and support funding a new FY11-16 agreement at the $5 billion level. The proposed new agreement also provides more assurance that jurisdictions will pay for projects, but there are still some questions about the details and whether a jurisdiction can back out too easily. WMATA… Keep reading…
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Metro analyzes “peak of the peak” options
WMATA staff have formulated two alternatives for implementing a “peak of the peak” charge that is more closely targeted at the congested core of the system, as advocates and some Board members requested. In addition to the 10¢ and 20¢ systemwide alternatives presented earlier, they evaluated one option that charges only for riders exiting at central… Keep reading…