Coalition Seeks Public Hearing and Alternatives to Drastic Metro Service Cuts
COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 6, 2010
Contact:
Cheryl Cort, CSG, 202-244-4408 ext 112
Coalition Seeks Public Hearing and Alternatives to Drastic Metro Service Cuts
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is urging the WMATA Board to hold at least one public hearing and to consider alternatives to drastic service cuts, prior to making a final decision. The Coalition and its partners in the Transit First! campaign will be attending tomorrow’s WMATA Board meeting and hope to have the opportunity to speak, while requesting a full hearing for next week.
“We recognize that WMATA board members and member jurisdictions face difficult decisions about how to close the nearly $40 million deficit for FY10 operating budget. Such significant decisions, however, should not be made without input from the public, especially riders,” said Cheryl Cort, Policy Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
The Coalition is recommending that the board commit to preserving peak period capacity and off-peak frequency, by finding other cost savings. We
- Oppose proposals increasing headways from 20 to 30 minutes after 9:30 pm on Orange, Blue, Yellow & Green lines; and 15 to 20 minutes on Red line.
- Oppose proposals reducing 8-car trains to 6-car trains during rush hour.
- Oppose proposed bus service cuts that will leave many riders waiting long periods in the cold and rain.
“We believe Metro should examine other rail and bus service approaches that allow Metro to maintain service while closing the budget gap,” said Cort. “For bus service in particular, by giving buses priority on key routes, we can speed bus service and save money. The state transportation agencies need to commit to doing this.”
Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition added: “State, local and federal government should provide funding to help bridge the budget shortfall. The states of Maryland and Virginia should be reprogramming transportation funds to support critical transit operating needs. Otherwise these cuts will harm economic activity throughout the region, increase traffic on the roadways, and further strain service workers trying to get to and from their jobs.”
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