Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld wanted to sock away a million dollars a year to pay for additional hours for playoff games and other “major events of regional significance.”

Metro’s board of directors said no. They say they plan was half-baked and the issue should be part of a larger discussion during the upcoming budget process.

D.C. board member Tom Bulger said he was happy to see the item struck from the agenda.

He thinks the team owners or other corporations should continue to pay for the additional service since they have the money. But he also said it’s a larger policy decision that shouldn’t be made so hastily. He first learned of the proposal just four days ago.

Virginia board member Christian Dorsey said none on the board were keen on the idea. He argued there were too many details to work out in such a short amount of time.

For now, Metro will still provide the extra 20-minute flex period for the Mystics game Thursday night and the three potential NLCS games at Nationals Park. The Metro station closest to the event will stay open, while the other stations will be exit only. They say anyone in line 20 minutes after the last play will get home.

For years, Metro required a team or another sponsor post $100,000 per extra hour of service deposit. That amount would be reduced by the amount of fare money Metro pulled in during the extra service.

But it led to tense standoffs and left fans wondering when or if a sponsor would step forward. One time, Qatar funneled money to pay for a Capitals game.

Wiedefeld said it was time to fix the policy, but now will have it as a larger budget discussion.

“Where we can do it, we want to do it,” Wiedefeld said of the extra service. “We’re here to serve the public and the riders.”

He said, for now, they’ll stick with the policy of allowing longer special event hours 10 times a year. That will not infringe on Metro’s maintenance work.

Metro put the 20-minute flex policy into effect for the Washington Nationals Wild Card game last week.

They’ll need it again tonight as the Mystics play in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Nationals are guaranteed at least two home games next Monday and Tuesday. They’d also play Wednesday if they don’t get swept by the Cardinals or sweep the Cardinals.

The larger discussion around event service hours will happen in the fall and winter as WMATA enters its budget process.

This story originally appeared at WAMU.