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With significantly reduced ridership and new federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a deficit of nearly $ 500 million. Here is what you need to know.
NBC Washington’s Adam Tuss on proposed Metro budget cuts
With significantly reduced ridership and new federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a deficit of nearly $ 500 million.
Metro director general Paul Wiedefeld said on Monday that the proposed budget for 2021 includes closing the metro at 9 p.m., ending service on weekends, closing 19 stations and reducing the number of trains. which would result in longer waiting times.
“We are facing. obviously, a historic fiscal crisis. He started in (exercise) 21 and will continue in (exercise) 22, ”said Wiedefeld.
It would all be reduced to a “simple service” to support essential travel, while ensuring that Metro survives to serve the region during a recovery. According to the proposal, bus service would be reduced to around 45% of pre-pandemic levels. Weekend bus service would be increased to account for the lack of weekend rail service.
According to Metro’s budget proposal, the 19 stations that would close are:
- Arlington cemetery
- Archives
- Cheverly
- Clarendon
- Cleveland park
- College park
- East Falls Church
- Eisenhower Avenue
- SW Federal Center
- Federal Triangle
- Greensboro
- Grosvenor-Strathmore
- Judicial Square
- McLean
- Morgan Boulevard
- Mount Vernon Square
- Smithsonian
- From Dorn Street
- Virginia square
“This is by no means an apocalyptic scenario,” Weidefeld said. “It’s not even the worst-case scenario. The worst-case scenario would be if revenues were to remain totally unchanged… an end of the world would be if we had to shut down the service or something worse.
Metro’s proposed budget for fiscal 2022 also includes wage freezes, layoffs, and postponement of wage increases for unionized employees.
The changes, if approved, will take effect in July.
WTOP has contacted the union representing Metro employees for comment.
While Metro expects significantly lower revenues next year, its spending is increasing. In addition to employee benefits, the agency continues to pay for the second construction phase of its Silver Line expansion while supporting the expenses of its Cinder Bed Road bus garage.
Metro spending also increased due to the pandemic, as it paid more than $ 10 million for testing, increasing personal protective equipment, and cleaning.
The transit agency said passengers have returned slowly, with Wiedefeld saying current data shows 20-25% of pre-pandemic ridership returning. Although the numbers are expected to rise next year, they expect to stay well below historical levels. Projections, Wiedefeld said, depend on the availability of a coronavirus vaccine and the willingness of runners to use the system.
The effects of the pandemic have prompted Metro to scale back its operations, with Metrorail opening at 5 a.m. and closing at 11 p.m. on weekdays. It received $ 876 million in federal funding in May through the CARES Act to help maintain a balanced budget, while ramping up its reopening operations and providing coronavirus protective supplies to employees.
While the transport agency restored the majority of its rail and bus services to its pre-pandemic schedule in August, Wiedefeld said at the time that it was facing an “imminent crisis” without more funding. federal.
Subway board member Matt Letourneau of Loudoun County, Va. Agreed, saying in September that the expected influx of passengers had not returned to use public transportation.
“Frankly, the big ticket to our metro system is the federal government… And I think it’s fair to say that we expected more customers to come back when the federal government started recalling employees than it was. ‘was the case,’ he said earlier. year.
Adding additional federal aid from Congress could help avoid the cuts, Wiedefeld said.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the proposal “deeply disturbing,” but also a reminder of why more federal aid must be provided. She also said it was important for everyone “regardless of party or ideology” to come together to help Metro.
Mayor Bowser’s statement on the proposed WMATA budget for fiscal year 2022 pic.twitter.com/62OTG0B5og
– Major Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) December 1, 2020
The problems Metro faces, from reduced ridership to budget deficit, are not mutually exclusive. Wiedefeld said agencies in Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago are grappling with similar issues without “a clear idea” of returning their revenue streams.
“The reality is that in the short term, $ 500 million is what we would need from the federal government to get back to where we were,” Weidefeld said. “Right now that’s basically what we’re talking about, and the sooner the better.”
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