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Metro is once again facing a budget crunch (in the form of a predicted $100 million shortfall) and thinking about raising fares, but this time it's changing tactics just a bit. Instead of soliciting rider input at the end of the process, as Lena Sun points out in the Post, this year they're talking to customers at the beginning. And tonight marks the first public forum on Metro’s proposed 2011 budget.
If you're a D.C. resident and would like to offer your opinion on whether WMATA should focus on increasing fares or reducing service or some mix of both, head to the U.S. Naval Memorial's Auditorium at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW tonight at 6:30 p.m. Metro Board Chairman Jim Graham, Metro General Manager John Catoe, and other officials will all be on hand to hear you out.
Virginia residents are invited to a forum on Wednesday at George Mason High School in Falls Church, and Maryland residents will also have their own forum, which is yet to be announced.
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I wonder if they will pass around the collection plate...
Here are a few ideas:
1. Eliminate all overtime for WMATA employees. Hire enough full-time staff to cover the workload without having to dole out overtime pay. There is no good excuse for paying O/T to anyone in the WMATA system.
2. Increase the minimum Metro fare to $2. I don't feel that WMATA can increase the max metro fare much more than the current $4.50 before riders start abandoning Metro in favor of their cars. I'm currently paying $9/day in metro fares ($13.75 including parking), which is nearly as much as driving would cost me.
3. Increase the minimum bus fare to $1.50 or more. WMATA has historically increased bus fares at a slower rate than metro fares, and bus fares are artificially kept low.
4. In addition to/in lieu of number 3, we could implement a tiered-pay structure for bus trips. They have these all over Europe and other parts of the world: You swipe your card upon both entering and exiting the bus, and pay a fare based upon the distance traveled. This way, someone traveling 8 miles pays more than someone traveling 8 blocks.
Didn't WMATA already raise fares last year because of a projected budget shortfall this year? I can't believe Mr. Catoe still has a job.
$2 minimum is very reasonable for a metro ride. The current amount is low compared to other places around the world. I think buses should be kept artificially low, because there always needs to be an option for lower income people.
On the other hand, it seems likely that being part of DC government it is ripe for some restructuring and downsizing...
WMATA is the second largest (non-government) employer in the area with 9,200 employees.
Something else they could try is charging for parking on the weekends. Maybe instead of the full fee, just half the fee. It would increase income by increasing the number of people who have to purchase SmarTrip cards and the parking fee itself. They have it in Chicago and it doesn't seem to deter anyone: http://www.transitchicago.com/parkandride/default.aspx . Will it be enough to close the budget gap? Probably not, but it's at least a place to start. I've been waiting for a meeting like tonight's to go and voice my opinion, but unexpected work obligations are preventing me. So I'm voicing it here and in a letter to WMATA.
+1. Same thing in Boston.
The group said it expects that the board will have to implement its 2007 policy to adjust fares every two years to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
Seeing as we're in a deflationary economy (i.e. prices are falling), shouldn't operating expenses - and therefore fares - be declining as well?
Where's this $100 million figure coming from? The article cites a $144 million budget gap.