Metro Sets Public Hearing Schedule on 2011 Budget

WMATA has released its schedule for public hearings on next year's budget proposal. The transit agency is facing a $189 million budget gap in fiscal year 2011, and a variety of fare hikes and service reductions are on the table.

Members of the public are invited to comment on those proposals (you can read through them all here) at six public hearings in March and April. All hearings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with an open house conducted prior to each hearing at 6:30 p.m. Witnesses may register in writing by sending their name, address, telephone number and organization affiliation, if any, to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 5th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Requests may also be faxed to 202-962-1133 or e-mailed to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com. The full hearing schedule is below the jump.

If you can't make it to one of the scheduled meetings, you can still let WMATA know what you think. They've put together an online survey, the results of which will be incorporated into the final staff report to Metro's Board due in April.