Budget-Balancing Efforts Delayed as Time Runs Short

The Metro board postponed budget talks yesterday because some of the jurisdictions served by the transit agency were unable to reach a consensus on a final proposal. Board members hope to decide next Thursday what, if any, service reductions will be presented to public hearings.

Finance Committee Chairman Peter Benjamin said that although the localities were close, "every jurisdiction was not ready at this point." He declined to identify jurisdictions that weren't ready, but other board members and local government officials said the problem was in Maryland.

Maryland pays a subsidy to Metro, but only Montgomery and Prince George's counties are served by the agency. State officials had asked both counties to identify bus routes for service cuts; Montgomery submitted a list, but Prince George's did not, according to a government official who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the proposal before it is made public.

The board has narrowed the agency's budget gap to about $29 million, but members have been unable to agree on how best to proceed. Any proposals to cut bus or rail service would have to be presented at public hearings. Metro staff members said they have one week for the board to make the decisions before they run up against tight deadlines.

Some jurisdictions have indicated that they might be able to pay larger subsidies to Metro, board members said.

Other options include reducing MetroAccess service for people with disabilities by conforming more closely to the basic federal requirements. The staff has estimated that Metro would save about $2.8 million a year. No board members have spoken in favor of the option.

The board is also divided about using some of the agency's federal stimulus money to close the gap and about charging for weekend parking at Metro lots.

Many board members from the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, where most Metro parking is located, oppose the idea of weekend parking fees. District member Jim Graham strongly supports it.

A Metro staff analysis found that charging as little as $1 for weekend parking would reduce ridership and produce a net revenue loss. Assuming a $1 parking fee, it would be cheaper for a family of three to drive downtown to the museums on the Mall than to park and take Metrorail to the Smithsonian station, according to the analysis.

Fare increases are not on the table, board members said.

Some board members said they were frustrated by the process. "Nobody wants to cut any stuff," said Chris Zimmerman, who represents Virginia. If subsidies are not increasing and "nobody wants to talk about anything on the fare increase, what the heck is left?"

Separately, Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. said the staff was acting on a customer suggestion, forwarded by Graham, to look into a possible arrangement with Redbox, the automated DVD rental company, to install kiosks at Metrorail stations. He did not know how much revenue such an arrangement might generate.