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Four days after #WMATA GM Paul Wiedefeld proposes MAJOR cuts ( https://dcist.com/story/20/11/30/dc-metro-proposes-reducing-service-cutting-weekend-trains/), now Metro's board gets to hear and respond to the budget.
Follow live here (or follow this thread):
Follow live here (or follow this thread):
Here's how people and industries around the region reacted to the news of no weekend train service, 9 p.m. closing time, 30 min headways, closing 19 stations and reduced bus service: https://dcist.com/story/20/12/01/wmata-budget-cuts-impact-dc-region/
Also, board chair @Paul_Smedberg will be on @kojoshow at noon. @MayorBowser also a guest: https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2020-12-04/the-politics-hour-december-4-2020
Here's the full budget proposal: https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-GM-FY2022-Proposed-Budget.pdf
And the proposed bus network - just 45% of pre-pandemic service levels: https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-1-FY22-Consolidated-Route-Network-Service-Plan-updated-12-1-Final.pdf
And the proposed bus network - just 45% of pre-pandemic service levels: https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-1-FY22-Consolidated-Route-Network-Service-Plan-updated-12-1-Final.pdf
Finance Chair Steve McMillan says the budget prioritizes essential travel and ensures it will be in place as region starts to recover.
"Tough medicine" for many stakeholders, but we have to budget w/ the dollars we have available and schedule service within those constraints."
"Tough medicine" for many stakeholders, but we have to budget w/ the dollars we have available and schedule service within those constraints."
GM Paul Wiedefeld is now presenting the budget, which we got a preview on Monday. Won't tweet this portion unless anything new or noteworthy.
Otherwise, see here: https://dcist.com/story/20/11/30/dc-metro-proposes-reducing-service-cutting-weekend-trains/
Wiedefeld says cuts are "historic"
Otherwise, see here: https://dcist.com/story/20/11/30/dc-metro-proposes-reducing-service-cutting-weekend-trains/
Wiedefeld says cuts are "historic"
Wiedefeld: We looked at what can we do to minimize impacts on service and on employees?
Very difficult given the scale (of nearly $495 million hole).
Very difficult given the scale (of nearly $495 million hole).
Wiedefeld: I have requested that the five unions defer their pay increases. That's something the agency can't do on its own -- so we're starting negotiations.
That's about $20M which could save 200 from getting laid off.
That's about $20M which could save 200 from getting laid off.
Bus: Right now have 75% of pre-pandemic service levels, proposal would be 45%
Rail: Right now we have 50% of pre-pandemic service, proposal would be 20%
Wiedefeld: All cuts are painful. We're trying to serve as many people as we can - and places that need service like hospitals
Rail: Right now we have 50% of pre-pandemic service, proposal would be 20%
Wiedefeld: All cuts are painful. We're trying to serve as many people as we can - and places that need service like hospitals
Wiedefeld says he wanted to keep budget process on schedule to give employees and riders plenty of time to adjust their personal and professional lives around new reality.
McMillan says he's glad management isn't raiding capital budget dollars -- lack of maintenance is what got Metro into problems before.
See: SafeTrack
See: SafeTrack
Board member/MD Transpo Sec. Greg Slater cuts are drastic. Baltimore transit system also dealing with similar cuts.
Says vaccine distribution coming, hopes ridership comes back.
"Cuts of this magnitude will make it hard to come back."
Says vaccine distribution coming, hopes ridership comes back.
"Cuts of this magnitude will make it hard to come back."
Appreciate that you have to plan for the worst and adjust for the best, Slater says.
Slater: How will this service integrate with other local bus systems?
Slater says local govts worried about isolation of no-car households in Suitland, Bowie etc.
Also concerned about layoffs impact on MD -- 65% of WMATA employees live in MD, Slater says.
Slater says local govts worried about isolation of no-car households in Suitland, Bowie etc.
Also concerned about layoffs impact on MD -- 65% of WMATA employees live in MD, Slater says.
Wiedefeld says WMATA will work with local transit systems like Ride On, CUE, Dash, The Bus, etc to help spread out and fill in as much service as possible.
Board chair Paul Smedberg calls cuts "sobering." Asks about how Metro could adjust if fed funds come through.
Wiedefeld says he's worried the next federal relief (if it happens) will be much less than the $800M that WMATA got earlier this year. But easier to add back service.
Wiedefeld says he's worried the next federal relief (if it happens) will be much less than the $800M that WMATA got earlier this year. But easier to add back service.
Wiedefeld says WMATA basing ridership predictions -- 34% increase next year -- on airline traffic, hospitality industry, rider surveys and other data.
But also knows things like cherry blossom festival cancellation in 2021 will mean a big hit in ridership.
But also knows things like cherry blossom festival cancellation in 2021 will mean a big hit in ridership.
Board member Devin Rouse asks Wiedefeld to explain the reasoning some of the proposed cuts -- 30 min headways all day etc
Wiedefeld: Based on demand we've seen, but open to adjustments. On trains, we wanted to maintain 8-car trains for social distancing.
Wiedefeld: Based on demand we've seen, but open to adjustments. On trains, we wanted to maintain 8-car trains for social distancing.
Rouse says it's hard to win back "choice" riders with service like this.
How do you win back riders? Has to be an incentive, he says. If you can get in your car and get there in same amount of time.
How do you win back riders? Has to be an incentive, he says. If you can get in your car and get there in same amount of time.
Board member Stephanie Gidigbi says to focus on who is using the system now, not just who may return later.
Also asks Wiedefeld to wait a month or so for Congress before starting the budget public comment period. "I don't know why we need to rush."
Also asks Wiedefeld to wait a month or so for Congress before starting the budget public comment period. "I don't know why we need to rush."
She argues that local governments now know the scenario so they can plan based on this info.
Gidigbi, with an impassioned speech, is about the only board member who has pushed back this hard on the drastic cuts.
"We need more of a visionary space" for a budget discussion.
"We need more of a visionary space" for a budget discussion.
Gidigbi says Metro should also be showing and highlighting riders who are already using the system, and feel safe using it.
Wiedefeld says surveys show that many just aren't ready until there's a vaccine. That's the reality, he says.
Wiedefeld says surveys show that many just aren't ready until there's a vaccine. That's the reality, he says.
Wiedefeld also argues that a small amount of ridership returning is not enough to sustain a return to full service. Needs federal funds.
Gidigbi asks why cant Metro give itself more time to wait for Congress to end its session. She says wait until January to authorize public comment period.
Wiedefeld says start process now and if Metro does get federal dollars then you can ask public what service they want.
Wiedefeld says start process now and if Metro does get federal dollars then you can ask public what service they want.
Gidigbi says Metro should think hard about adding Silver Line Phase II right now. Says the additional cost has implications for current service.
Board member Michael Goldman says the "budget sausage making machine" made something that is inedible.
Service cuts/budget proposal is too conservative, causes too much pain. Don't think it's one we should present to the public.
He also thinks Metro should wait a month. #WMATA
Service cuts/budget proposal is too conservative, causes too much pain. Don't think it's one we should present to the public.
He also thinks Metro should wait a month. #WMATA
Goldman says he says would've targeted 65-70% ridership increase by June 2022, instead of 34%, based on vaccine news.
Goldman says follow the science and the science shows improvement to pandemic by next summer.
He also says eliminate peak fare since trains aren't full.
He also says eliminate peak fare since trains aren't full.
