Photo by gdudg.

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.