'Literally Falling Apart'

After a quarter-century, Metro is succeeding beyond expectations in ridership, has become an integral part of the region and yet is literally falling apart.

SO BEGINS a document that everyone who has the slightest interest in greater Washington's public transit system should examine. It was prepared by 13 carefully chosen experts -- in economics, political science, public finance, regional transit and the history of Metro itself -- who were charged by regional officials to come up in a hurry with funding plans for a system that is heading for a financial calamity. If the regional leaders who asked for this report are serious about maintaining a functioning, vital system, they should heed the counsel they sought and resolve in the coming year to put Metro on solid financial footing.

Throughout the history of Metro, from its politically difficult birth through its growing pains and into its fraying adulthood, financing has been touch-and-go. The system has relied, more than other transit systems, on the fare box, while throwing itself annually on the mercy of partnering governments. It's not enough. "Even with reasonable assumptions about maintenance of effort by the federal, state and local governments, and a continued level of farebox support that exceeds that in most metropolitan areas," the report concludes, Metro's revenue can't ensure effective bus and rail service.

The Metro panel is recommending what every regional leader knows is necessary but has failed to address: a dedicated, reliable, regional source of revenue. Its first choice: a regional sales tax, coupled with federal government support in proportion to the benefits it receives, including essential transportation of workers and a homeland security response system. Localities could choose to raise their sales taxes or pay their shares from existing sales tax revenue. If the jurisdictions conclude that a regional sales tax is not the way to go, the panel recommends a payroll tax or some form of property assessment.

Those regional leaders looking to slither away from these proposals probably will point to waste in the budget, high executive payrolls and other ways that Metro could save money. More power to them, but the panel is talking about the big picture -- and without major financing, the system will break down. "Emergency" is a tired word in this town, but Metro needs help fast. "Summit meetings" have a numbing sound, too, but the governors of Maryland and Virginia, the District's mayor, state and city lawmakers, the U.S. transportation secretary and the top officials from every local jurisdiction should meet in coming weeks and tell each other specifically what proposals they are willing to support. No excuses about election years, other pressing issues or fear of more taxation. To ignore transit needs is to push more people onto already jammed streets and highways. Who will be the first to commit?