Fenty budget sets stage for huge transit cuts

Mayor Fenty’s proposed FY2011 budget, released yesterday, made no change to the contribution levels for transit, setting the stage for massive service cuts on top of large fare increases.

Even the General Manager’s proposed budget, with cuts including no Yellow Line to Fort Totten, no 8-car trains, 30-minute evening headways and far fewer buses, plus fare hikes of 15-20%, require a $40 million increased contribution. DC’s share is about $16 million.

Through the FareShareForMetro.com petition, residents have been asking for a larger contribution of $74 million (about $30M from DC) to also remove these service cuts.

Despite getting hundreds of letters, the Fenty administration was unmoved. More frustrating, they sent the following form response yesterday morning to everyone who sent letters, which doesn’t even address the issue:

Thank you for taking the time to send your concerns regarding funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Although the District works closely with WMATA, it was created as an autonomous interstate compact agency, consisting of a Board of Directors with representatives from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and most recently, the federal government. As a result, the Board of Directors has sole authority over WAMATA’s budget formulation; however, my administration strives to ensure that the interests of our residents, businesses, and visitors are taken into account through performance oversight.

I understand the impact that the metro system operations have on residents and visitors on a daily basis. My administration will continue to provide strong input in addition to working with the WMATA board of directors to ensure an effective, suitable transportation alternative for customers.

For a more complete and detailed account of the FY 2011 WMATA budget please visit: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/capital_needs/index.cfm.

Your interest in this and other matters is always welcomed as we keep the city on task with making improvements around the District. Thank you for writing and for your support.

Sincerely,

Adrian M. Fenty

Mayor

This letter ignores the actual request residents were making, which was for a stepped-up contribution for transit. It is also misleading about the administration’s role, making it sound as though the Board makes all the decisions on WMATA funding and is completely independent from the administration. In fact, the jurisdictions choose the funding level, and Fenty’s top deputy, Neil Albert, is one of the members of the Board.

At last month’s Dupont Circle ANC meeting, Jack Evans said he supported transit funding but that every item required trade-offs. Evans also suggested that Virginia needs to step up and raise taxes such as the gas tax, which is lower than elsewhere in the region. It’s true the Richmond limits Northern Virginia’s freedom in many areas, but Virginia is stepping up in this case, with most jurisdictions ready to contribute to transit if DC and Maryland follow suit.

It’s time for DC officials to stop pointing the finger, especially to Virginia, which isn’t at all deserving on this issue. DC is the one that stopped the momentum yesterday. Fortunately, after the release of the budget, Jim Graham promised to work to increase transit funding levels.

At last night’s DC hearing on the WMATA budget, large numbers of witnesses criticized Board members for failing to demand funding, especially dedicated funding streams, from local governments. Riders were happy to take the 10¢ fare increase over service cuts a few months ago, and some still spoke about preferring fare hikes to service cuts, but the dominant theme was frustration at the Board for allowing this situation to develop.

Board members can fix it. Neil Albert is both a DC representative and the City Administrator who formulated the budget, and Jim Graham is one of the Councilmembers who can change it if he can muster the needed support.

DC should put the flexibility into its budget to support transit. Even if it does, it might ultimately be able to spend the money on local transit needs instead of WMATA, if Maryland doesn’t go along. Next: The growing Maryland debacle.