Washington Metro to cut call center hours to ease shortfall

The Metro system's customer information call center will shorten its hours this month, a move designed to save $400,000 a year as the transit agency faces an estimated $40 million gap in its operating budget for the current fiscal year.

Beginning Jan. 10, the center that helps callers with trip planning and other information will close two hours earlier -- at 8:30 p.m., Metro officials said.

"It's safe to say we're looking for ways to save money in every department of the agency," Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said. "This is a cost-saver for us."

Although the hours when representatives are available will be curtailed, automated information will continue to be available 24 hours a day for those who call 202-637-7000, Metro said.

Metro's projected budget shortfall has increased from $22 million to $40 million, officials with the mass transit agency announced in December. They blamed the decline in revenue on the recession and the increase in unemployment, which they said translates into fewer riders.

The Metro board will hold a special session Thursday to consider staff recommendations to address the problem. Those recommendations include saving:

-- $12 million by shifting some parts purchases from the operating to the capital budget.

-- $10 million by using stimulus funds to pay for some preventive maintenance.

-- $2.2 million by eliminating about 125 positions (100 vacant operating positions would not be filled, and 25 administrative jobs would involve layoffs).

Specific service cuts also are under consideration. They include increasing the time between trains from 12 to 15 minutes during the day Saturday, from 15 to 20 minutes during the day Sunday, and from 20 to 30 minutes at night Saturday and Sunday.

Weekday wait times would go from 12 to 15 minutes at midday and from 20 to 30 minutes at night. Early morning service on weekdays would be reduced, increasing the wait between trains from six to eight minutes. In addition, peak service would be reduced by running only six-car trains on weekdays.

Ten Metro mezzanines would be closed weekends: Anacostia North, Stadium-Armory, New York Avenue South, Friendship Heights South, Shaw-Howard University South, L'Enfant Plaza West, King Street North, Navy Yard East, U Street East and Silver Spring North.

In addition to the gap in the current year's budget, Metro faces a projected $175 million shortfall for fiscal 2011, which begins July 1. Metro is considering service cuts and fare increases to help close that gap.

Staff writer Ann Scott Tyson contributed to this report.