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Metro's board today caved to mounting pressure to avoid massive Metrobus service cuts and voted to make only $2.5 million worth of cuts instead of $13.6 million, reports Lena Sun in the Post. In order to make up for a predicted budget shortfall, the board voted 5-1 to dip into the agency's so-called rainy day fund, which currently holds $13.3 million.
Instead of some 70 odd bus routes being eliminated, the following routes are the only ones that will get the ax, according to Sun:
- The L7, in Montgomery County
- The Z2, in Silver Spring
- The C7 and C9, in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
In addition, new increased Express fares of $3.10 ($3 for SmarTrip) will be charged on the J7, J9, and W19 Metrobus routes.
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wmata still needs to consider a 5ยข fee hike...
It's totally unfair to characterize the Metro board as "caving" in this situation. They listened to public input and made a decision that reflected the public's concern. How is that "caving" to anything but the public whom they serve? I typically like your posts, Sommer, but let's not diss on WMATA around on the one occasion they actually listened to the public!
And I totally agree with IMGoph - it's time to raise prices (preferably Metrorail so as not to slam poor people on buses with no alternative). For heaven's sake, even the Riders' Association is asking for that.