Photo by Mr. T In DC

Metro estimates that it lost $5.5 million during the 16-day government shutdown, according to the latest quarterly report. Not that riders will have any sympathy for Metro after this morning, but that’s a pretty significant dent.

The report states that the shutdown cost the system “approximately 1.7 million passenger trips.” Beyond passenger fare, this loss is attributed to a lack of parking revenue. On the second day of the shutdown, Metro announced that it would only use six-car trains due to lower ridership. Bigger cuts were planned, but thankfully the shutdown ended before they could take effect.

Through the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 (July through September of this year), Metro reports a positive net position of $11.6 million. Metro bus ridership increased by one million more trips than the same quarter last year, mostly because of the “Ride Free on Bus” program for D.C. students.