(Photo by Jeff Morgan)

Under a budget plan released today, Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld is proposing to keep fare levels the same next year while leaving the service cuts that went into effect after SafeTrack in place.

The 2019 budget also asks for $165 million more in subsidies from local jurisdictions as WMATA leadership continues to warn that D.C., Maryland, and Virginia will have to shoulder an increasing financial burden in the years ahead unless the system gets a dedicated funding source.

“There is virtually nothing more we can do of significance to further trim costs without impacting service, which we don’t want to do,” Wiedefeld said in a release. “So as a region we must act now on initiatives like those outlined in our funding plan, to control future operating cost growth.”

The fare proposal is in keeping with a longstanding Metro practice of increasing rates every other year. Under Wiedefeld’s “reality check” budget last year, peak rail fares increased by 10 cents and bus fares went up by 25 cents. It also increased the length of time between trains and reduced operating hours. Some board members found the latter unacceptable on a permanent basis, so the cuts to late-night service were only approved for one year.

But under Wiedefeld’s 2019 budget, the current hours would remain in place.

The nearly $1.3 billion proposal includes funding for the remainder of the 7000-series cars, new buses, a preventative maintenance program, and a backlog of track work and rail power, radio, and wireless systems. It doesn’t, however, provide for a proposed extension of all Red Line trains to Shady Grove, staffing for the Silver Line’s second phase, or wage increases (Metro is currently in arbitration with its largest union, which could result in mandatory wage hikes).