Metro board all morning!
Agenda: Will they or won't they send out a ravaged service plan/budget out for public comment or wait for Congressional aid? Also a Silver Line update: wmata.com/about/board/me…
Livestream:
Or follow along in this thread.
Agenda: Will they or won't they send out a ravaged service plan/budget out for public comment or wait for Congressional aid? Also a Silver Line update: wmata.com/about/board/me…
Livestream:
Or follow along in this thread.
Here's where we left off last Friday: dcist.com/story/20/12/04…
Board now going over new service guidelines to ensure equity in bus service across the region. These plans haven't been revised for about 20 years.
wmata.com/about/board/me…
wmata.com/about/board/me…
Metro is using new metrics (pic 1) to help grade (pic 2) all its bus routes.
You can find your bus route in pic 3.
These grades will help inform which routes "may need a little attention" and improvement.
You can find your bus route in pic 3.
These grades will help inform which routes "may need a little attention" and improvement.
Now on to the budget discussion: whether to hold out a while for funding from Congress or go ahead with public comment now and stay on track with the process.
General Manager Paul Wiedefeld: "I do not want to do any of these actions. I'd rather be in the position to add service and I look forward to being able to do that. But now we need to take action."
Wiedefeld says WMATA must have a balanced budget.
If funding does come, Metro can add service back and pull back on layoffs.
"I wish we were in a different place, but we're not. We must deal with what is before us," Wiedefeld says.
If funding does come, Metro can add service back and pull back on layoffs.
"I wish we were in a different place, but we're not. We must deal with what is before us," Wiedefeld says.
If the board moves forward today, public comment would start in mid-January and last 3-4 weeks. Would include online surveys, virtual public hearings. Also will include in-person outreach.
Wiedefeld says it's challenging to do the budget as the "environment changes by the minute," speaking on the ever-changing proposals from Congress.
He said he hopes the overall $908B package comes through this year and more next spring.
He said he hopes the overall $908B package comes through this year and more next spring.
So far, Sec. Slater and Board Chair Smedberg and Rouse support going to public comment now and adjusting from there.
Goldman, Gidigbi and the WMATA Rider Advisory Council have all encouraged Metro to wait until Congress adjourns next week.
Goldman, Gidigbi and the WMATA Rider Advisory Council have all encouraged Metro to wait until Congress adjourns next week.
Gidigbi has been on the board for a year now. "More than I thought that I signed up for."
Said she provides needed rider perspective to the board.
Said she provides needed rider perspective to the board.
Gidigbi asking about how the outreach process works. Says need work with businesses, most vulnerable riders.
She says WMATA needs to go above and beyond usual process given drastic cuts and COVID's impact on getting public feedback in person.
She says WMATA needs to go above and beyond usual process given drastic cuts and COVID's impact on getting public feedback in person.
Tentative public comment period runs from Jan. 16 through Feb. 9. The online public hearings are the week of Feb. 1, under Metro's proposed timeline.
A number of ways people can weigh in to come once finalized.
A number of ways people can weigh in to come once finalized.
Michael Goldman says don't close 19 stations, leave them open, but unstaffed.
"What sense does it make to close the College Park station that serves the U of Maryland."
Also talks about tourists and Smithsonian staiton.
Also says don't eliminate weekend service.
"What sense does it make to close the College Park station that serves the U of Maryland."
Also talks about tourists and Smithsonian staiton.
Also says don't eliminate weekend service.
Goldman says proposal would eliminate Metrobus service in MoCo on three critical corridors, River Road, Connecticut Ave and Colesville Road.
"If that comes to pass, Metrobus will become almost invisible in Montgomery County. I think that's a mistake."
"If that comes to pass, Metrobus will become almost invisible in Montgomery County. I think that's a mistake."
Goldman predicts this budget will never actually be implemented.
But having a debate on the drastic cuts over next four months will discourage riders as world comes back to normal.
But having a debate on the drastic cuts over next four months will discourage riders as world comes back to normal.
Goldman is now quoting Shakespeare, saying board is engaging in a budget process "full of sound and fury," but will ultimately signify nothing.
Board member Matt Letourneau pushes back on Goldman.
"The reality is, unfortunately, absent a change in revenue, absent new revenue, then the type of layoffs and type of things we're putting out for public discussion ARE going to happen."
"The reality is, unfortunately, absent a change in revenue, absent new revenue, then the type of layoffs and type of things we're putting out for public discussion ARE going to happen."
Letourneau: "We obviously know public input will be negative. People will not like this. But out of all these bad choices, which are the worst?... We have to be able to weigh them against each other."
Says if funding does come, then can make decisions off that input.
Says if funding does come, then can make decisions off that input.
That wraps up the committee discussion of the budget. Full board will vote whether to go ahead or wait later this morning.
Now on to two minor station name tweaks (ditching UVA from West Falls Church and adding VT to Potomac Yard).
Plus an update of the Silver Line
Now on to two minor station name tweaks (ditching UVA from West Falls Church and adding VT to Potomac Yard).
Plus an update of the Silver Line
Metro approves name changes.
West Falls Church now
West Falls Church - VT
Potomac Yard will be Potomac Yard-VT
West Falls Church now
West Falls Church - VT
Potomac Yard will be Potomac Yard-VT
On to Silver Line: wmata.com/about/board/me…
Metro has budgeted to open second phase in July, but also says it "will not set a target service date until all identified
issues have been resolved to meet acceptance standard."
Metro has budgeted to open second phase in July, but also says it "will not set a target service date until all identified
issues have been resolved to meet acceptance standard."
Metro says 10 of 14 "quality issues" with second phase of Silver Line Phase II have been resolved. Four remaining are "improving."
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is in charge of overseeing construction, says substantial completion of the project is set for April 2021.
Tentatively, service could start in Fall 2021, says WMATA's Laura Mason. But many safety certifications are needed before that can happen.
Metro is bringing 14 new issues to the board because they're not on track and are "significant and unresolved."
Goldman says these should've been brought to the board earlier.
Goldman says these should've been brought to the board earlier.
Gidigbi again brings up equity concern with opening Silver Line, wants to know how Phase II is classified: as new service or existing service (since Silver Line Phase I is already up and running).
WMATA officials say they'll have to get back to her.
WMATA officials say they'll have to get back to her.
Soon, we're heading to the full board meeting. wmata.com/about/calendar…
Metro has MANY public comments. Will only read 20 minutes worth.
Sounds like many are on the proposed budget.
Sounds like many are on the proposed budget.
Apparently some technical difficulty during the public comment period -- only about three comments were presented.
Smedberg says today's vote to authorize public hearings "is only the beginning... only the beginning of the budget conversation. It is now time to hear from you, the customers and stakeholders."
Says numerous opportunities for feedback -- online survey, public hearings.
Says numerous opportunities for feedback -- online survey, public hearings.
GM Wiedefeld says they'll continue to advocate for federal funding for both employees facing layoffs and riders facing service cuts.
Wiedefeld now talking about losing a third Metro employee to COVID.
From @justingeorge: washingtonpost.com/transportation…
From @justingeorge: washingtonpost.com/transportation…
#WMATA board votes 6-2 to put the drastically cut budget, service plan to public comment.
Goldman, Gidigbi voted no b/c wanted to wait for Congress.
Comment period runs from Jan. 16-Feb. 9.
What's on the table for July 2021-June 2022 unless federal funding comes through:
Goldman, Gidigbi voted no b/c wanted to wait for Congress.
Comment period runs from Jan. 16-Feb. 9.
What's on the table for July 2021-June 2022 unless federal funding comes through:
And that wraps today's Metro board meeting.
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