Thread by @JWPascale

Metro's board is discussing the longer service cuts and the possible major reduction to the workforce due to the pandemic.

dcist.com/story/20/09/09…

You can watch here:

Budget presentation to the board is over and now on to discussion.

.@DDOTDCDirector says it's unfortunate circumstances and a difficult reality w/o federal support. He's curious about why taking steps now to address budget.

Wiedefeld says compact mandates a balanced budget and if they wait to address it, cuts would be more severe.

Wiedefeld says starting this early to allow public to give input. Also building in 60 days in case layoffs are needed (union contract mandates 60 days needed before that can happen)

Wiedefeld says this is a contingent plan and could pull back quickly if new federal funding is approved by congress.

MD Transpo Sec. Greg Slater says the situation is complex and challenging. Says even MD's six-year plan for transpo projects slashed by $2.9 billion. So feeling it everywhere.

Lists several transit agencies w/ cuts: NYC, Denver, LA, Tampa, Vegas. "We're in a bit of a crisis."

Slater asks if these are temporary service adjustments or permanent? Would bus transfers increase with these service changes? How is access to hospitals, grocery stores etc affected? How does changes affect the transit-dependent riders?

Wiedefeld says bus service is about 73% of pre-COVID levels on weekdays, 85% on Sat and 89% on Sun.
Service was developed trying to meet demand, whether it was hospitals etc.
Will compile data on other questions.

Board Chair Paul Smedberg of Alexandria says capital projects still important b/c of safety, state of good repair and are tied to specific streams of money/grants etc.

Smedberg: "We don't want WMATA to turn back the clock in terms of doing capital projects and state of good repair projects. That's what got us into a financial pickle in the first place."

He's alluding to the recent past with SafeTrack work that was needed b/c of lack of attn.

Smedberg asks about discussions with the regional congressional delegation.

Wiedefeld says he's involved with @APTA_Transit nationally and says it will be a heavy lift to get more money in the near future. "A lot of other needs out there."
If do come, would be less than CARES $

Smedberg said chances of federal $ is "less than 50/50."

Fed representative Devin Rouse echoes Smedberg, says capital program cannot fall behind. "You shouldn't borrow from that. When you need it, the infrastructure needs to be there, the equipment needs to work."

Rouse says data should drive service changes. Needs to be transparent

Rouse encourages monitoring changes of swipe in/out data at rail stations.
He expects a lot of different factors in the coming months that will affect ridership, so continue to follow it.

D.C. rep @SimplySJG says she supports the six principles the board is adhering to in making these changes.

Gidigbi says we have to remember that behind these numbers are people. Acknowledge the tension between bus/rail riders. (Bus has been overcrowded on certain routes)

Gidigbi says she wants to hear from the public. Board has had discussions about the tradeoffs, but key is hearing what riders think.

"We want to understand how these decisions will impact all of us through the New Year."

MD rep Michael Goldman says he has concerns about eliminating the Red Line turnbacks (deadheading about half of trains at Grovesnor and Silver Spring).

He's worked to eliminate those turnbacks (which ended last summer) and now they may come back.

Sorry that last tweet was confusing.

Metro eliminated turnbacks last year.
Now, with budget cuts they're looking to bring them back.
Goldman does not want turnbacks to come back.

Goldman says it's easy, low-hanging fruit to do turnbacks again, but he encourages staff to look for more creative alternatives.

Maybe make headways 6.5 minutes, he says. Need less trains/operators.

Goldman says service changes made this year will act as the baseline for next year and that makes him nervous.

Talks about chicken and egg of returning to work/not having a reliable/frequent way to get there in 2021.

VA's Matt Letourneau says he's disappointed in Goldman "if there's ever a moment to not be parochial, it's now," he says.

Letourneau says Red Line inner stations getting better, more frequent service than other lines already.

Letourneau says use data to right-size demand.
"That should be what drives decision-making on this. Despite all of these cuts, we're still providing pretty reasonable levels of service on rail. I was expecting worse levels of frequency."

Letourneau looking toward next year: "If no help coming in FY22 then it becomes an exceptionally difficult conversation with DRAMATIC cuts coming to the system. That is sobering."

Metro board votes to set in motion budget changes. Metro will meet again next week to approve final proposal they will take to the public.

Metro's largest union re: budget "It doesn't have to be this way." Advocates for federal funding to save jobs, service.

"Underinvestment in transit takes years to recover," @ATULocal689 says in a statement.