Photo by (afm)
Good morning, D.C. Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and the environment is still really messed up. But at least things are bad in different ways! I never hear anyone talking about acid rain anymore, for instance, and I distinctly recall writing a very serious book report about that when I was in the fourth grade. And it seems like we actually managed to solve that whole hole in the ozone layer problem, right? Oh, except maybe that’s bad. Well, the actual big Earth Day event planned for the National Mall isn’t taking place until Sunday, so I guess we still have a couple more days to sort it all out.
Mr. Sarles Comes to Washington: Interim Metro General Manager Richard Sarles was among those who testified before a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing Wednesday on Metro’s serious safety issues. The Post’s write-up of the hearing puts Sarles’ six-month plan at the top, which he told the committee will focus on bringing the system “into a state of good repair” and addressing the agency’s $189 million budget gap.
Sarles is expected to present his budget plan at today’s WMATA board meeting, and the Examiner offers a preview:
Sarles plans to call for raising rail fares from the current minimum of $1.65 during peak hours to $1.95 and as much as $5 for the longest trips, according to a report to the board. Those riding during the busiest 90-minute periods during the morning and evening rushes would pay a 10-cent “peak-of-the-peak” surcharge. Bus fares would rise from $1.25 to $1.50 for SmarTrip farecard users.
But visitors and occasional riders would pay more: bus riders paying cash would need to cough up $1.60, while rail riders using paper fare cards would pay an extra 25 cents per transaction. Parking would cost 50 cents more.
The good news? Service cuts would be limited to only $8 million worth, significantly less than the $30 million originally proposed. But those cuts include some some tough pills to swallow, including closing the rail system at 2 a.m. instead of 3 a.m. on weekends, and charging late-night riders a flat $4 fare.
Briefly Noted: Driver in fatal crash was high on PCP, had history of reckless driving … Nightclub shooting in Temple Hills … Woman injured in hit-and-run at Connecticut & Q NW … Surveillance video of Nellie’s robbery … U-Md. turns over more video in student beating case … Metrobus driver fired after road rage incident.
This Day in DCist: In 2009, we were shocked, shocked to learn that U.S. Capitol Police officers have Facebook pages, and in 2008, we looked at some possible new flooring options for Metrorail cars.
