Metro GM: To An Extent, People Accept Fare Hikes “Just Like Changes In The Price of Milk”

Steve Burns
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON – (WMAL) In the clearest sign yet that fare increases may be part of his latest budget proposal, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld told a gathering of regional leaders Wednesday that fare increases are “something we need to look at,” as the beleaguered system moves into the most disruptive phase of the SafeTrack rehabilitation program.

Wiedefeld started his Wednesday outside the Rhode Island Avenue station on the Red Line, one of two stations that will be closed for three and a half weeks starting this weekend. The Red Line will be shut down between NoMa and Fort Totten stations. Brookland station will also be shuttered.

“Surge 10 has one of the largest rider impacts of all the surges we have done and will do,” Wiedefeld said. “It impacts about 200,000 peak trips per day.”

Riders are being encouraged to avoid the shutdown area by using MARC trains, buses, and the Green Line to get into downtown. Shuttle buses will run to the closed station, but they are only meant for riders disembarking at those stations, not as through service, Wiedefeld said.

Other parts of the Red Line will also see service reductions.

“The shutdown will result in severe service reductions that will impact the entire Red Line from one end to the other,” he said. “”On the west side of the Red Line, trains will run from Shady Grove to NoMa every six minutes (during rush hour). That’s about a 50% reduction from our normal service.”

He said the full shutdown is necessary in order to replace multiple crossovers and switches. Single tracking necessitates the use of those switches.

Among the options for Montgomery County riders is a free RideOn shuttle from Silver Spring to Fort Totten, which connects to Green Line service into downtown. A limited number of free MARC tickets will also be distributed in order to encourage riders to explore their commuter rail options.

Wiedefeld then made his way over to the board room at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, where he gave an all-encompassing progress report on his efforts to turn the Metro system around 11 months into the job. He also made mention of fare increases as part of a package that may need to be included in his next budget proposal in order to erase a $275 million deficit.

“We haven’t had a (fare increase) in three years. The policy of the board is that would be every two years, and we skipped it last year,” he said. “I think that’s something we would need to look at. Just at a minimum as (inflation) goes up, there will be costs there.”

Further pressed by a COG member about fare increases, Wiedefeld said fare increases are usually palatable.

“I think there is a general sense that, at some level, they do make some sense and people do accept them, just like you accept changes in the price of milk or whatever.”

There were some bright spots in his report. Delivery of the new 7000-series trains are coming in steadily, about 16 per month, with the hopes of further reducing train-related problems and delays. Metro is also making progress installing cables to facilitate cell phone service in tunnels.

Wiedefeld did, however, acknowledge some tough realities.

“(We are facing) a decline in ridership and the associated revenue,” he conceded. “”It’s a tough situation we’re in right now. I don’t think it’s a long-term situation. I think it’s part of our own making, but I also think there are other factors going on in the region. Everything from teleworking to the federal workforce, to Uber.

“Our goal is to provide the best product we can, and we believe ridership will start to follow that,” he said.

(Photo: WMAL)