Metro Shelves Fare-Hike Talks

Proposed Metro fare increases have been put on hold at least until an outside consultant completes a review to find other ways to balance the budget, a committee of board members decided yesterday.

John B. Catoe Jr., who became Metro's general manager two weeks ago, said he wants to wait for the firm to "look at every dime that we spend, at every position that we have, to make sure they are absolutely necessary" as Metro tries to deal with a $116 million shortfall in the proposed budget for fiscal 2008, which begins July 1.

Officials had recommended covering more than half of the shortfall -- $64 million -- through increased fares. Under the original proposal, another part of the shortfall would be covered by taxpayers through the subsidies paid by jurisdictions in which Metro operates. The plan also includes savings from bus and rail service reductions.

But the fare-increase proposals, as much as $2.10 per ride, triggered furious responses from riders.

"We got ourselves into a bit of a sticky wicket," said Jim Graham, a D.C. Council member who chaired yesterday's Metro Budget Committee meeting. "This puts the brake on that discussion."

But while those talks are on hold, Metro officials must race through a financial review because they have only about a month to decide on fare increases if they are to take effect by July 1. Metro rules call for a strict timetable for public comment that must occur before any fare increase.

T. Dana Kauffman, who represents Virginia on the board, said if fare increases are sought, he does not want them to go into effect later in the year -- for fear they would cost riders and taxpayers more.

If there has to be an increase, he said, "I'd rather see fares go up sooner than later." Referring to deficits facing local jurisdictions, he added: "If we delay too much, you don't want to go to the cookie jars from the local jurisdictions and there's nothing there."

Catoe told board members that "it's going to be tight," but he and other officials assured the board that there is still enough time.

The board also endorsed Catoe's proposal to overhaul Metro's safety program and change the corporate culture after a series of high-profile incidents. Four Metro workers were killed in three train accidents in little more than a year. Last month, a derailment injured 20 passengers near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station.

Metro will hire a company to look for systemwide weaknesses and create a training program that emphasizes more responsibility and accountability for supervisors.

The company would be hired for five years but would not receive money upfront. Instead, the company would earn a percentage of the savings Metro achieves in reduced claims and medical expenses that result from improved safety, Catoe said.

Separately, officials said they need 128 new rail cars to accommodate the proposed Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport and hope to seek a contractor this summer.