Metro Fare Hikes and Service Cuts Loom as Maryland Weakens Support By Cheryl Cort Faced with another operating deficit, Metro is considering a set of fare increases and service cuts that will be widely felt among the region's transit riders, and the region as a whole. While budgets are tight among all three-member jurisdictions, Maryland is alone in offering a lower increase in public support for the region's transit agency. At the February 12 Metro Budget Committee meeting, Virginia and D.C. Metro board members reiterated their commitment to fund the transit agency at an increased level of 4.5 percent to help make up the budget shortfall that would leave a $28.8 million gap. Maryland, however, is pushing for a lower subsidy increase, which will generate a larger deficit of $36.3 million to be made up with fare increases and service cuts. One option the Metro staff proposed was to increase fares with a market approach that would only increase fares on users most willing to accept higher charges, losing the least amount of ridership and revenue. Staff recommended focusing on peak period rail commuters, and proposed to raise peak boarding charges between 15-30 cents. For off peak rail trips, staff proposed only a 5-cent increase and also only a 5-cent hike for all bus trips. Most Metro board members voiced disagreement with maintaining a low increase for bus riders and asked for staff to present a higher bus fare proposal. Arlington County board member Chris Zimmerman argued against raising bus fares at the same level as Metrorail noting that the quality of service and amenities is much lower for bus service, and that the bus serves a less affluent ridership. A number of service cuts were considered and rejected by the board, including closing four stations on the weekends (Cheverly, Capital Heights, Forest Glen and Federal Center), and several station entrances that attract few riders on the weekend. Next week the Metro board will decide on the final package of service cuts and fare increases for public hearings. D.C. and Virginia board members view the $28.8 million deficit as much more manageable amount than the $36.3 million that Maryland's position is pushing the deficit towards. The difference in the shortfall will be made up in higher fare increases and deeper cuts in service. For more of Intersect see: http://www.washingtonregion.net/html/v8n1.htm http://www.washingtonregion.net/pdfs/v8n1.pdf