Thread by @MetroReasons

I'm a few minutes behind, but will attempt to tweet some highlights of today's #wmata meetings

#wmata staff proposing fare & service changes for the Board to vote on today, which restore some rail service and increase bus service om select routes, though still not quite return Metro to pre-pandemic service levels.
Metro wants to move towards all-day, less peaky service

Also, fare changes (proposed, not final until the Board votes). #wmata staff previously suggested some of these changes which were deferred, but are now back.

(no firm dates here, but here are about when changes - if approved today - would take effect. Most would come this fall around Labor Day, but #wmata has already made some changes on the bus side)

For the Arlingtonians here (hi @CarFreeHQ2), the FY22 proposed fare/service changes would restore Metroway service up from 20min to 12min weekday headways. #wmata

Some VA service changes between last week's proposal and what's today before the #wmata Board

29K/N: 20min proposed, now 40min
MW1: 20 > 12
Routes restored (at least partial): 1B, 3Y, 8S, 16Y

Orig: wmata.com/about/board/me…

Now: wmata.com/about/board/me…

Goldman wants to "broaden" the $2 flat fare from Friday to Monday, references pre-pandemic travel patterns where Tues-Thurs were highest rail ridership days.

Another change in today's proposal: #wmata staff are proposing to make the bus/rail transfer completely free, rather than the prior $1 discount proposal

Goldman asks about parking, interpreting a slide to believe parking is still free. Anosike says parking fees were restored in August 2020.
He proposes making parking free from Labor Day to the end of the year to increase parking lot utilization.
#wmata

I don't think I see any DC bus changes in the orig vs new proposal (regarding the 12min/20min routes)

Letourneau notes add'l restoration of routes in VA is leading to some subsidy changes, i.e. $880k extra for Arlington. Anosike says subsidy calculated per usual #wmata policy

Anosike says new subsidy numbers should be available in ~September; total #wmata subsidy from jurisdictions not changing, but since routes were re-added in VA the money is shifting slightly between local jurisdictions.

https://twitter.com/MetroReasons/status/1402991238157017092

Goldman speaks further to his earlier proposals; says he's willing to "spend it now" to try and boost ridership w/lower flat fare, cheap parking, to close the funding gap that #wmata faces in the future. (His proposals don't increase bus/rail service)

McNillan: based on rider comments/sentiment, "there's definitely more of a focus on frequency and reliability of service here in the near-term. Obviously our riders are not indifferent to fare levels...but that...does not seem to be the primary driving force"
#wmata

*McMillan, oops

A lot can, uh, happen in three years? #wmata

https://twitter.com/jamespizzurro/status/1402996846956478468

Impastato says floor warnings to be piloted at Dupont Circle & Potomac Ave. On inquiry from Goldman why those two have higher injury rates, she notes both don't have canopies (Dupont coming soon!) which could expose escalators to weather & long escalators. #wmata

Impastato + rail training want to use simulators for operator training + have them train on various different types of events that may occur in the rail system. #wmata

Today is Mr. Goldman's last #wmata Board meetings as his term expires at the end of the month, and it's also the last Board meetings for EVP Laura Mason, who's heading over to Amtrak.

Mason's SV II presentation notes some issues that have been resolved, including replacing damaged fasteners (bad install job) and insufficient lines of sight for signals (repeater signals, like at Rosslyn, to be installed).
#wmata

Joe Leader: 6mo timeline of hiring/training process for SV II. Hiring has already begun, 37 so far with another 57 in the hiring/HR pipeline. Combination of new-hires and employees promoted/moved inside #wmata. Looking to have everybody in place ~October/November.

More service than the agency has been offering during the pandemic, yes, but still less service than, say, 2016 or 2018.

https://twitter.com/wmata/status/1403067697131315203

#wmata