Metro Opts to Tap Reserve Funds, Some Bus Routes Saved

We guess the rainy day is now.
Metro decided to tap a $13 million rainy day fund to close its budget gap, and while there will be some "service adjustments," there aren't as many as originally floated.
Arlington County’s ART bus service also will take over operating the 22B and 24P routes. Here's the rest.

"Under the new budget plan, four routes would be eliminated, one line would be restructured, one route would gain service and fares would increase on three routes. Metro riders who board the J7, J9 I-270 Express buses in Montgomery County and the W19 Indian Head Express in Prince George’s County would pay the $3.10 cash express fare or $3 with a SmarTrip card. Riders have been paying the regular $1.25 SmarTrip card fare or $1.35 cash fare for express service. The L7 (Connecticut Ave to Maryland line) route would be eliminated but extra buses would be added to the L8 route. The C7, C9 (Greenbelt to Glenmont) and some off-peak service on the Z2 (Colesville to Ashton) routes also would be eliminated. The 21 A, B, C, D and F (Landmark-Pentagon) routes would be consolidated into a single route."

Source: Metro
WaPo story

Photo: daquellamanera

Be heard!

From one of our Twitter followers, it sounds like buses are effectively cut:

"MoCo General Hospital. Two Y9's at the stop. One has NO driver. The other switches OUT of Service."

"Waited almost an hour at Glenmont for a "Y" bus going to Olney. Never came. Got on the MoCo RideOn only to be passed by the Y7. Suckage."

If you're concerned about what The Washington Post calls "the biggest cuts back in [bus] service in many years," this is your week to let Metro know how you feel.
There will be six public hearings in the District, Md. and Va. All start at 6:30p.m.
Here is the schedule:
• Monday, April 13, at First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 6201 Belcrest Road, in Hyattsville, Md.
• Monday, April 13, at Marshall Road Elementary School Cafeteria, 730 Marshall Road SW, in Vienna, Va.
• Tuesday, April 14, at First Baptist Church of Wheaton, 10914 Georgia Ave. in Wheaton, Md.
• Wednesday, April 15, at Arlington County Government, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, County Board Room, 3rd Floor, in Arlington, Va.
• Wednesday, April 15, at St. Francis Xavier Church, Bailey Room, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, in Washington, D.C.
• Friday, April 17, at Metro Headquarters, 600 Fifth St., NW, in Washington, D.C.

In other news:
Stimulus tallies 2,000 transportation projects