Thread by @JWPascale

Breaking: #WMATA is proposing some of the grimmest cuts in its 50-year history. If approved, service cutbacks starting July 2021 include:
- No weekend train service
- Trains every 30 mins on each line
- Close 19 stations
- Close at 9 p.m. instead of 11
dcist.com/story/20/11/30…

- Bring back turnbacks on Yellow, Red Lines; Silver Line service only from Ashburn to Ballston
- Cut bus routes from 60 lines to 41
- Eliminating ANOTHER 2,400 positions on top of the already-approved 1,400 buyouts/layoffs. (1/3 of workforce total)

dcist.com/story/20/11/30…

This is just some of the ways Metro is trying to bridge a $500 million budget gap for July 2021 to June 2022.

All of this could change/go away if Congress approves new federal coronavirus relief funds for public transit.

WMATA hopes it will come soon.
dcist.com/story/20/11/30…

Metro GM Paul Wiedefeld says he has to plan for what is in front of him.
“When you have limited dollars, you have to prioritize based on needs and [ridership is lowest] on the weekends... We are leaving ppl behind because there just isn’t $ to do it.”
dcist.com/story/20/11/30…

To everyone expressing shock and anger on this news, WMATA's public comment period on the budget runs from January-March.

In the meantime, you can leave a comment for Metro's board: wmata.com/about/board/pu….

But most importantly, call your congress members for federal relief

https://twitter.com/JWPascale/status/1333875405674123267