MetroRiders.Org

To:           Metro Riders

From:      MetroRiders.Org¹

Subject:   Urging Metro's Contributing Jurisdictions² to Be

                 Willing to Increase Subsidy Payments to Meet

 

It has been well documented that the Washington, D.C. area Metro system has had serious problems. Metro's 1.2 billion annual rail, bus and paratransit passengers collectively pay the second highest level of transit fares and fees in the nation. A substantial fare and parking price increase starting in FY'2011 is expected. Riders must pay their fair share of Metro's increased annual operating costs.

 

MetroRiders.Org needs your help to ensure that reductions in Metrobus and Metrorail service levels are the last option to be considered.

 

The Issue:  Metro staff has indicated to its Board of Directors that there is likely to be a substantial budget gap, currently estimated at about $150 million, between estimated revenues and expenses in the Metro FY'2011 Operating Budget (July 2010 - June 2011).  Metro's planning budget assumes: (1) fares on Metro riders will be increased starting next July by about $37.5 million (the increase in the cost of living since the last fare increase); BUT THAT (2) the Contributing Jurisdictions won't be increasing the amount of their annual subsidy levels beyond their prior year amounts.

 

Likely Bottom Line:  There will be substantial cutbacks in Metro rail and bus services starting next July unless those Contributing Jurisdictions offer to increase their subsidy payments, since further reductions in Metro's operating and maintenance expenses don't seem possible and an  even higher increase in rider fares could result in fewer riders and less revenue.

What MetroRiders.Org Has Done: We testified at Metro's recent Public Forum that, even though the Contributing Jurisdictions - like individual Metro riders - were having a hard time balancing their budgets, these governments should increase their FY'2011 payments to Metro to eliminate whatever budget gap remains after the riders' fare increase  ($37.5 million) is mandated.  For Metro riders to have to pay more and the Contributing Governments not to contribute any more seems totally unfair!  We've also sent individual letters to those Contributing Jurisdictions, asking them to pay their fair share of any Metro budget gap.

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¹ MetroRiders.Org is a non-profit organization of mass transit users in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, particularly daily commuters on Metrorail and Metrobus. Through public education, MetroRiders.Org. presses for dependable, quality Metro service levels, additional rail and bus capacity to meet Metro's growth, and for better coordination with other transit systems serving the region.

² The District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties (all in VA).

What You Could Do Now:  You could help by sending a brief email to the Chief Executive or top official of your Contributing Jurisdiction urging that government to increase it's contribution to help eliminate Metro's anticipated budget gap.  A copy of a draft email you could modify and send, plus email addresses for each Contributing Jurisdiction, are included in this special MetroRiders.Org Alert.

Also included are links to MetroRiders.Org's Statement at the recent Public Forum and recent letters to each Contributing Jurisdiction.  (Those letters indicate the approximate amount of increase each jurisdiction might have to contribute to eliminate the anticipated budget gap, as now estimated.)
 
Here's a sample draft email you could cut, paste and edit, and email to your Contributing Jurisdiction:

 

 

Email addresses:       

DC: Mayor@dc.gov

Maryland: bswaim-staley@mdot.state.md.us

Alexandria: alexvamayor@aol.com

Arlington County: bfavola@arlingtonva.us

Fairfax County: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov

Fairfax: rlederer@fairfaxva.gov

Falls Church: rgardner@fallschurchva.gov

 

“Subject:  Support for Higher __________³ Subsidy Payment to Metro for FY'2011”
 
I urge your support for a higher subsidy payment to Metro to help close the anticipated $150 million gap in its FY'2011 Operating Budget.  While we all hope this budget gap can be reduced before Metro's budget is finally approved next June, Metro riders recognize that we will have to pay higher fares next year as our fair share. Although government budgets are tight (as are riders' own budgets!), riders believe that Metro's Contributing Jurisdictions should also be willing to increase their payments to Metro for next year to avoid the substantial reductions in Metro service that otherwise would be required.  Thank you.
 
________________ (name)
________________ (address of constituent)
________________ (City or jurisdiction)

 

Time is of the essence!  The Metro General Manager has to release a "balanced" Draft FY'2011 Operating Budget on December 3 and will soon be asking each Contributing Jurisdiction whether it can increase its subsidy payment for FY'2011.

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³ Insert as appropriate: State of Maryland, D.C. Government, or the name of your local government in Virginia

 

Follow-up:  We'd appreciate your bcc:ing us a copy of your email to mail@metroriders.org.  Otherwise, we hope you follow this and other current Metro issues (e.g. safety regulation) on our website:  http://www.metroriders.org

 

Follow the links to see the MetroRiders.Org statement and the letters to the Contributing Jurisdictions: