Posts tagged Wmata Budget
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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…
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Groups call for hearings, bus priorities, earlier fare increase
Transit advocacy groups have issued public statements on the proposed Metrorail service cuts the WMATA Board will consider at a meeting this morning. Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: Contact your representatives
Ask to be heard; Transit projects create more jobs; Dog owner tax break?; Photoshopped ad deceptive or thrifty?; Train fatality in BaltCo. Keep reading…
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Our region must commit to maintaining transit
The proposed WMATA cuts for the remainder of the current fiscal year threaten to throw Metro into a “death spiral.” Some cuts are okay, if not ideal, like closing some mezzanines on low-ridership rail stations off-peak, and removing some bus stops which could actually improve service for most riders. However, others will seriously diminish the value of the rail system… Keep reading…
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Cuts would make Metrorail headways worse than most
On Thursday, the WMATA Board will consider a proposal to cut off-peak Metrorail service by reducing the frequency of trains. That portion will make up about half of the service related reductions needed to close an anticipated $40 million budget gap for the current year, which ends in June. Part of the reductions proposed is a cut in frequency from every 12 minutes to every… Keep reading…
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WMATA Board, JCC still silent on bus priority, rider input
As Matt and Michael wrote, we’re looking at some pretty unpleasant service cuts and dangerous borrowing from future years to close WMATA’s $40 million FY2010 budget gap, not to mention the $175 million gap for FY2011 which starts in June. We must be very careful not to let Metro get into a “death spiral,” where falling ridership leads to budget shortfalls… Keep reading…