Posts tagged Wmata Budget
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Advocates say fares, jurisdictional contributions both too low
Tonight at 5:30 pm is the budget hearing at WMATA HQ, 600 5th St NW. Please sign up to speak if you can attend, or submit written comments, at public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com. Transit First! issued a statement opposing the service cuts in Option 1 and recommending a mix of fare increases and preventative maintenance to close the FY2010 budget gap. MetroRiders.Org and… Keep reading…
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Support option 4 on Wednesday
There are two days left until the WMATA FY2010 budget hearing on Wednesday evening. Sign up to testify! Metro has presented four options, though you can recommend combinations of the options. It’s not possible, however, to recommend any fare increase greater than those proposed, because DC’s Board members blocked that. The options mix a combination of service… Keep reading…
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Sign up to testify at Wednesday’s WMATA budget hearing
The hearing on the WMATA budget is this coming Wednesday. It’s important to get lots of riders there to weigh in on the four options, and to show WMATA Board members the importance of having hearings or town halls like these on future budget decisions. Keep reading…
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It’s time for regional leaders to speak up for transit
First, mark your calendars for next Wednesday at 5:30 pm, which is the public hearing on Metro’s FY2010 budget gap. It’s very important for as many riders as possible to attend and weigh in on the four options, involving varying levels of service cuts, fare increases, and deferring capital dollars from March 1 to June 30. Metro has to make tough decisions about how… Keep reading…
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Metro’s menu contains four budget options
As transit advocates have requested, Metro proposed a menu of options for public consideration at the public hearing on Wednesday Friday, January 27 at 5:30 pm. When discussing this hearing with John Catoe, he mentioned that participants will be asked to place stickers on display boards to indicate their preferences. He thought some might consider this “juvenile,”… Keep reading…
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Metro outlines fare policy principles
On Thursday, the WMATA Board’s finance committee will hear a presentation on general fare policy. While Metro’s staff doesn’t make any specific recommendations, the presentation is a great summary of the current state of “a-fares” (groan). Metro’s ridership is declining or staying the same compared to the same period before,… Keep reading…
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Chris Zimmerman answers the rest of your questions
Chris Zimmerman, WMATA Board member from Arlington, was disappointed that he couldn’t reply to all of your questions during his live chat a month ago. He asked us to send him the questions that we didn’t have time to post, and emailed his replies. Karl Johnson: So you think ridership would be at the current levels if the accidents and numerous safety issues had not occurred? CZ:… Keep reading…
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Interactive budget tool could teach riders Metro tradeoffs
Los Angeles is facing a $400 million budget gap for next year, and has created an interactive tool to let residents play around with different levels of cuts and revenue increases to close it. The tool presents users with a set of choices for cuts to libraries, the fire department, capital projects and more, and potential revenue increases such as higher stormwater fees or selling… Keep reading…
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Graham, Albert did allow several options for public hearings
Yesterday, I expressed my disappointment that the WMATA Board’s vote for public hearings on the FY2010 budget prevents targeting a larger temporary fare increases to some times of day or groups of riders. I’m still disappointed. However, I also used sharper language than usual, and ended up attacking in a much more pointed way than, upon reflection, seems appropriate. Keep reading…
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DC blocks giving riders some choices for budget
There was high drama at the WMATA Board meeting today as the DC members vetoed part of a motion by Arlington’s Chris Zimmerman to let riders weigh in on fare increases at a planned hearing later this month. Keep reading…