With a rapidly declining ridership and a lack of fresh federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a deficit of nearly 500 500 million. To find out what’s here.
Adam Tuss of NBC and Washington Washington on Metro’s proposed budget cut
With a rapidly declining ridership and a lack of fresh federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a deficit of nearly 500 500 million.
Metro general manager Paul Widefield said Monday that the proposed 2021 budget includes shutting down Metro Rail at 9pm, ending the week, closing 19 stations and reducing the number of trains, resulting in longer waits.
“We are facing. Obviously, a historic budget crisis. It started in FY21 and will continue in FY22, ”Wiedefeld said.
Everything will be reduced to a “bare bones service” to support essential travel, while ensuring that the area survives to serve during the metro recovery recovery. Under the proposal, bus service would be reduced to about 45% of pre-epidemic levels. Weekend bus service will be increased in view of the lack of weekend rail service.
According to Metro’s budget proposal, the 19 stations to be closed are:
- Arlington Cemetery
- Archives
- Cleverly
- Clarendon
- Cleveland Park
- College Park
- East Falls Church
- Eisenhower Ave.
- Federal Center SW
- Federal Triangle
- Greensboro
- Grosvener-Strathmore
- Judiciary Square
- McLean
- Morgan Boulevard
- Mount Vernon Square
- Smithsonian
- Van Dorn Street
- Virginia Square
“This is not a doomsday scenario,” Wadfeld said. “It simply came to our notice then. The worst case scenario would be if the revenue remained completely stable… Doomsday would be, if we had to stop the service or something bad. “
Metro’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget also includes fixed, sporadic and delayed pay increases for union employees.
If the changes are approved, they will take effect in July.
The WTO has approached the union representing Metro employees for comment.
While Metro is forecasting sharp revenue next year, its costs are rising. In addition to employee benefits, the agency will still pay for the construction of the second phase of its Silver Line expansion while adopting costs from its Cinder Bed Road bus garage.
The epidemic has also increased Metro’s costs, as it has paid more than personal 10 million for personal testing, increased personal protective equipment and cleaning.
The transit agency said Widefield said it has been returning slowly since morning, showing a 20-25% return of pre-epidemic. While numbers are expected to increase next year, they plan to stay well below historic levels. The projections, Widefield said, depend on the availability of the coronavirus vaccine and the morning’s willingness to use the system.
Metro resumed its operations due to the effects of the epidemic, Metrorail opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 11 a.m. on weekdays. મે Federal funding in May to help maintain a balanced budget. Millions of dollars were received, when employees began its operations to re-supply the cornvirus process and start its operations.
When the transit agency restored most of its rail and bus services to its pre-epidemic schedule in August, Widefield said it was facing an “upheaval crisis” without more federal funding at the time.
Matt Leternau, a member of the metro board in Loudown County, Virginia, agreed and said in September that the expected rush of riders has not returned to use mass transportation.
“Quite proportionally, the big ticket for our metro system is the federal government … and I think it’s fair to say that more change was expected when the federal government started recalling employees than the case.” Year.
The addition of more federal aid from Congress could help avoid cutbacks, Widefield said.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the proposal “troubling”, but also a reminder of why more federal aid is needed. He also said it was important for everyone to come together “regardless of party or ideology” to help Metro.
Mayor Bozer’s Statement on the WMAT Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal pic.twitter.com/62OTG0B5og
– Mayor Muriel Bowser (MayorBowzer) December 1, 2020
The problems that Metro is facing are not the only ones ranging from reduced riderships to budget cuts. Widefield said agencies in Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago are wrestling with similar issues without any “clear understanding” of when their source of income will return.
“The reality is that, in the short term, the 500 500 million is what we basically need from the federal government to get to where we were.” “Right now, that’s basically what we’re talking about, and the sooner, the better.”
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