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Metro released a detailed budget presentation Tuesday that lays out with real numbers the doomsday scenario the transit agency has been warning about for months if jurisdictions don't find hundreds of millions in additional funding Dollar.
Closing the projected $750 million operating budget deficit next fiscal year without such a cash injection would require radical cuts, Metro officials said, combining dire warnings with hopes that devastating changes would never come. The budget proposal is Metro's latest warning siren about pandemic-era commuting habits and mounting budget deficits that the agency says could hamper mass transit in the Washington region for years.
Without more money, Metro's budget calls for eliminating 67 of 135 bus routes and reducing service on 41 others. This would close 10 of the agency's least-used stations. Metrorail service would end daily at 10 p.m. Fares and parking fees would increase by 20 percent. The times between trains would increase rapidly. Almost 2,300 Metro jobs would be lost.
“This is a budget we do not want to deliver. This budget proposal would result in customers paying more for significantly inferior service,” said Metro General Manager Randy Clarke. “This is a much bigger deal than the normal crisis.”
Ridership on the subway system is up, but revenue is still down
Metro officials said the detailed cuts are part of the agency's obligation to present a balanced budget. Metro's board will discuss the budget proposal on Thursday and won't finalize the budget until the spring.
Clarke said the cuts, if they came, would have devastating consequences for the agency, its staff, clients and the region.
“Without a functioning Metro, I don’t think the DMV has a bright future,” he said.
The proposed staff cuts would result in dirtier stations, trains and buses, Metro officials said, as well as less real-time information for riders. Reliability issues that have been the focus of years of cleanup efforts are at risk of being undermined again the transit agency, officials said.
As part of their proposal, Metro officials would shift preventive maintenance funds to the operating budget and say more problems with escalators and track signal disruptions are expected. Transit officials say Metro reduced police presence, increased response times and faced the possibility of weakened cybersecurity protections. They warned of possible problems with vehicle performance, but gave no examples.
Metro's board says service cuts are real unless funding increases
Officials from jurisdictions across the Washington region that fund Metro have discussed the deficit and largely agree that the transit authority needs more money but that there is no clear path to make up the deficit. Metro's forecasts show that the budget gap will widen in subsequent years without further funding.
Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), D.C. Council member and chair of the Transportation and Environment Committee, said the proposal is based on “a worst-case scenario in which D.C., Maryland and Virginia do nothing else by April.” . ” if Metro’s board voted on the budget.
Allen said given the discussions that have taken place among regional leaders, “I'm confident we can all agree that this budget can never become a reality.” This level of service would fail workers, seniors, students, businesses and residents .” He added that he will ensure the council passes a budget that fully funds the district's share of Metro. “Failure is not an option.”
The financial problems stem from lower ridership during the pandemic, the end of pandemic-related federal subsidies and inflation, including higher labor and material costs, Metro officials said. You notice others Major transit systems across the country have resolved similar financial constraints but say Metro faces unique challenges, in part because it relies on funding from multiple jurisdictions with their own political processes.
Metro wants to finalize its budget by April, although officials said that could take until May. The layoffs of employees would take place at the beginning of the financial year, on July 1, but notices of possible layoffs would be sent in January based on the procedures set out in the employment contracts. Public transit officials are planning a hiring freeze early in the new year, which they say will lead to service cuts this winter before final budget questions are resolved.
There is a wide gap between jurisdictions that are on track to contribute to the Metro budget and what they would need to contribute to avoid any cuts.
Metro, for example, expects the district to donate $495 million to the transit agency in fiscal year 2025. The city would need to add $275 million to avoid the cuts and transfer preventative maintenance funds to cover operations.
Metro is preparing for closed stations, layoffs and reduced service without increased funding
Metro expects Maryland to contribute $519 million but would need to add $209 million to close the budget gap, Metro officials said. Virginia's $348 million contribution would need to be increased by $180 million.
In a statement, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D)'s office said finding a sustainable and committed funding source for Metro is a top priority.
Moore spokeswoman Brittany Marshall did not provide details on how the deficit might be addressed, but said the governor and Paul J. Wiedefeld, the former Metro chief and now the state's transportation secretary, will work with Metro to find solutions “to work with stakeholders.” and legislative partners to find a comprehensive solution to our state’s funding needs so we can develop a system Marylanders deserve.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.