Metro Is Losing $400K A Day During The Government Shutdown

John Matthews
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Add the region’s Metro system to the casualty list for the current partial government shutdown.

In a letter to the region’s U.S. senators, WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld warns that the system is losing approximately $400,000 per day in fare and parking revenue.

“If ridership declines continue, in the short term, Metro could consider staffing or service adjustments, such as scaled back use of eight-car trains and extra trains to meet rush-hour demands,” Wiedefeld warns .

The agency has seen a dip in rail ridership of 16 percent a day, while bus ridership is down 8 percent daily.

The loss of business could be costly for taxpayers in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Wiedefeld says the transit agency may be forced to seek additional funding from the city and states if it cannot find money to continue operating the system. Aside from the revenue loss, federal grant money owed to Metro is not being disbursed during the shutdown, leaving WMATA with #33 million in capital spending that has not been reimbursed.

In a joint statement, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Metro’s woes highlight the need for the shutdown to be ended as soon as possible.

“At a time when Metro already is undertaking substantial, disruptive projects to improve safety and reliability, President Trump’s shutdown is jeopardizing the health and stability of the entire Metro system,” the senators wrote. “This wasteful, destructive shutdown must come to an end.”

Holy smokes. @WMATA is losing $400,000 PER WEEKDAY due to the shutdown. That revenue loss doesn’t even include federal funds that are on hold because the Department of Transportation is shut down. This has got to stop. pic.twitter.com/CbMDqbyYU6

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) January 17, 2019