It must be the week of “Stayed tuned for details” as it seems that Richard White, WMATA’s chief executive officer, is using the same public relations tactics as Linda Cropp. Just as Cropp, the D.C. Council chairman, says she has a new way to finance the proposed baseball stadium telling everyone to stay tuned for details, the region’s transit chief says he has big changes to announce next week. But he isn’t shedding much light on what he has planned.

From the AP, via WJLA:

He declined to provide details, but says the proposals will add to the fiscal year 2006 budget, which is already short $40 million.

But it’s all in the name of improving service, White says. Well Dick, we’re anxiously awaiting. In the meantime, we’ll lay out some educated guesses as to what could be in store. Could there be more verbal judo on the way, or could it be something like a new bus maintenance program or a new game plan on how to deal with aging escalators? Or maybe even a new crosstown subway?

In related news … The Post reports that metrorail train operators have been reminded on how to drive trains manually following last week’s crash at Woodley Park that involved an out-of-service train that was manually operated.