Upcoming Public Hearings on Metro’s Proposed Budget/Survey Comments Due March 15

Metro is soliciting public input on its proposed FY24 budget. View details at wmata.com/budget. Provide input by completing a survey or by participating in an upcoming public hearing.

Take the survey

Take the survey, provide written comments, or upload documents here. The survey closes at 5:00 pm on March 15, 2023.

Public hearing

All public hearings will be streamed online on this page, YouTube.com/MetroForward or by calling 855-925-2801, meeting code 7756.

Ways to participate in public hearing:

  • By video: Email speak@wmata.com by 5 p.m. the day before the public hearing.
  • By phone: Dial 855-925-2801, enter meeting code 7756
  • In-person: Register on-site, email speak@wmata.com or call 202-962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the public hearing.

All in-person public hearings will start at 6:00 p.m. Metro will host an Open House prior to in-person public hearings starting at 5:00 p.m. All locations are accessible via Metrorail or Metrobus.

Monday, March 6, 2023

Metro Headquarters
300 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
Green Line Blue Line Orange Line Silver LineL’Enfant Plaza
Metrobus routes: 32, 36, 52, 74, P6
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

New Carrollton Metro Offices
4100 Garden City Dr
Hyattsville, MD 20785
Orange Line Blue LineNew Carrollton
Metrobus routes: B24, B27, F4, F6, G12, G14, F14, T14, T18
Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Meridian High School
121 Mustang Alley
Falls Church, VA 22043
Orange LineWest Falls Church
Metrobus route: 28A
Friday, March 10, 2023

12 p.m. Virtual only

According to Metro, the proposed budget aims to:

  • Enhance safety through support of our police force, including new crisis intervention specialists
  • Ensure more frequent & reliable service, including increased train service and a complete redesign of the bus network
  • Create a more simplified & equitable fare system, including a low-income fare program
  • Improve customer service and communications with a new integrated communications center
  • Advance sustainability, including investments in our zero-emission bus program
  • Continue capital improvements for a better Metro, including major construction and maintenance projects

It is worth taking a look at the proposals regarding fares and rail service and bus service. Note the yellow line proposal. Also note that the Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2021 listed under the bus service proposal is currently the subject of a funding tussle between the DC Council and the District’s Chief Financial Officer (see DCist article on subject).

Information below copied directly from Metro’s website.

Fare Proposals

Simplified Metrorail Fares

This proposal will make our weekday Metrorail pricing easier to understand and improve the customer experience. Adjustments include:

  • Eliminate peak and off-peak pricing on weekdays before 9:30 p.m.
  • The base fare would lower from $2.25 to $2 to align with bus, weekend, & late-night service
  • Late-night and weekend fares would stay the same at $2
  • Maximum fares would increase from $6.00 to $6.50
  • The seven-day short-trip pass would be adjusted to cover trips up to $4. The price would stay the same.
  • Monthly unlimited pass options would reflect the $6.50 maximum fare adjustment.

Low-Income Fare Program

Our new Low-Income Fare Program would offer a 50% discount on Metrorail & Metrobus trips to eligible customers. This program would be accessible to customers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Rail Service Proposals

Our FY24 budget rail service proposal provides more trains to reduce travel times, expand destination access and grow ridership. Take a look at the details below.

Frequency Increases for Green and Yellow lines

  • Opening until 9:30 p.m. – From every 10-12 min to every 6 min
  • After 9:30 p.m. From every 15 min to every 10 min
  • Yellow Line begins new service pattern. Terminal change from Greenbelt to Mt Vernon Sq; operating between Huntington and Mt Vernon Sq only

Frequency Increases for Orange line

  • Opening until 9:30 p.m. – From every 12 min to every 10 min
  • Weekday rush hour only (6:30-9:30 a.m., 3-7 p.m.).  From every 10 min to every 7 ½ min

Red,  Blue and Silver lines frequencies remain the same

  • With this level of service, trains would arrive every 3-6 minutes in the downtown stations and every 8-12 minutes at stations served by a single line. After 9:30 p.m., trains would operate every 5-10 minutes downtown and every 10-15 minutes elsewhere.

Bus Service Proposals

We’re also working hard to expand access, advance equity and optimize bus routes for our Metrobus customers through these proposals.

  • DC
    • B2 Bladensburg Road-Anacostia
      Increase Route B2 service to every 12 minutes between 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week, adding to Metro’s Frequent Service Network.
    • Metro for D.C. Amendment Act of 2021
      • The Council of the District of Columbia passed the “Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2021” which includes:
      • Free Metrobus trips for customers within the District of Columbia
      • All-night Metrobus service every 20 minutes on the following routes: 32, 33, 52, 70, 90, A6, A8, B2, H4, S2, V2, W4, X2 – View Map
  • Maryland
    • A12 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway | View Map
      Add more service by splitting the A12 route into two routes, expanding to new connections to (BL) Downtown Largo and (OR) New Carrollton stations. Both routes would operate every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week, and every 30 minutes otherwise.
  • Virginia
    • 16G & 16H Columbia Pike | View Map
      The proposed new 16M would combine the former 16G and 16H with a new connection to Crystal City station and would operate every 12 minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week, and every 15-30 minutes otherwise. The western loop at Arlington Mill will be covered by Arlington Transit (ART).
    • 11Y Mt. Vernon Express | View Map
      Reinstate the 11Y express route from Mt. Vernon to Potomac Park, replacing the 11C and DC3 shuttle. Would operate every 30 minutes, northbound in the AM peak and southbound in the PM peak. Express fare would be charged

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