Photo by Adam Fagen.
It’s time for Metro to hold a public hearing for the proposed budget for the 2016 fiscal year! If that sentence gives you déjà vu, you’re not crazy—they held a similar public hearing in February, but twice delayed the final budget vote after there was much criticism regarding proposed far hikes and service cuts.
And thus, they have a revised budget they’ll be discussing in a public hearing on Tuesday, April 7, this time sans proposed fare hikes and service cuts. The FY16 budget they’ll be discussing proposes investing $1.3 billion “in providing safer, better, and more service for Metro riders.” Something that most D.C. residents will tell you is desperately needed.
Though the new FY16 budget proposal doesn’t include significant service cuts or fare increases, there are some changes that will be discussed. The revised budge includes a proposal to increase the parking fee at the Minnesota Avenue Station to $4.60, extending the hours of collection at all parking lots and garages by an hour in the morning and evening, and eliminating TransitLink Card passes.
Any approved changes to the budget would take effect in July.