Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
D.C. Police Seek Suspect in Series of Bank Robberies
Suspect in 9-Year-Old's Murder Found Dead in D.C. Jail
Photo of the Day: November 25, 2009
Ballou HS Rocks the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Many transit-types are plenty concerned about the impending budgetary cuts at Metro -- a struggle afflicting numerous other metropolitan transit agencies, despite surging ridership. But with the leadership of WMATA considering the idea that Metro could make up deficits by cutting rail service off at 10 p.m. on weekdays, it's sure to hit a nerve with casual, infrequent riders, as well as those of us who usually have our eyes on Metro's budget.
While there's nothing even remotely close to an official decision yet, Metro general manager John Catoe must have sensed that those of us who depend on our mass transit needed some calming, stat. In Adam Tuss' column at WTOP yesterday, Catoe delivered some reassurance:
"Well, we are not going to close our system at 10 o'clock. I can definitely say that is not gonna happen. It would have to be a far worse economic crisis than what we are facing today, before I ever make that suggestion. That will not come out of my mouth and the board will not be considering that," Catoe said.
Well, it's something. But Metro's grim financial outlook didn't get any better this week, when it was revealed that a mathematical error in the calculation of non-service cuts is leaving Metro with an additional $22 million which will need to be taken from existing costs -- and Metro is dangerously close to playing the "if we could only tinker with our revenue projections!" game.
Metro's board of directors postponed talks scheduled for last Thursday concerning such drastic cuts to service, and WMATA would be well served to attempt every other cost-saving avenue before forcing an alteration to most of the D.C. area's usual transportation routines. But at this point, there seems to be a lot of hoping -- rather than believing -- that Catoe's words will ring true.
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"a mathematical error in the calculation of non-service cuts is leaving Metro with an additional $22 million"
Metro! Please get your act together. This is not a 3 grade school play here. One minute you are all saying you a having a record year, then you turn around and say that it was a bad one, and you lost money. We're hearing the same thing from every business in America. Get better accountants! Fire the bad accountants!
Aw shit. This really takes the wind out of the sails of those of us that have been advocating that Metro keep its doors open 24 hours. I guess we wont be seeing that for years to come :( :( :(
I don't think a city of less than 600,000 has the population (or the population density) to support a 24-hour system, ever. Maybe during cherry blossom season and inagurations, but otherwise, we'd have to have a lot more people riding every day to justify the extra service. New York's system moves 5 million people every weekday. We have to expand Metro's infrastructure before we can significantly increase the number of passengers. I love the 2030 Plan that's been circulating around (anybody have a link?) and would love to see that implemented. Crossing my fingers that it eventually gets funded.
standrightwalkwleft, DC proper does have only 600,000 people, but the metro area has a population of over 5 million. That is roughly similar to the size of the Philadelphia metro area, and many of Philly's rapid transit lines run 24 hours a day. So the population of the DC area is not a reason why 24 hr/day service couldn't work.
Also, New York's system moves 5 million people a day because they have extensive service. Sort of "build it and then they will come" phenomenon. Undoubtedly if metro service was expanded, ridership would increase. Whether it is financially feasible or not is another issue, but the population of DC is the the reason why 24 hour a day service is unworkable..
Here's that link: 2030 Metro map by Greater Greater Washington
How about charge more?
Cut buses or anything else before Metro service. At the least, you usually can walk a mile or two from a Metro stop to many destinations.