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  • Metro proposes service cuts due to pandemic

  • Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.
Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.

Moderators: mtuandrew, therock, Robert Paniagua

 #1557768  by STrRedWolf
 
https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/20 ... -stations/
With sharply reduced ridership and lacking fresh federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a nearly $500 million deficit.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Monday the proposed 2021 budget includes closing Metrorail at 9 p.m., ending weekend service, closing 19 rail stations and reducing the number of trains, which would result in longer wait times.
 #1557779  by davinp
 
That is unacceptable. Some people connect to other transit and 30 minutes is too long and will cause people to miss their connecting ride. A subway is not like a commuter rail that operates every 30 minutes like VRE doese

We'll a COVID-19 vaccine before summer, so hopefully, we return to some normalcy.
 #1557980  by mtuandrew
 
davinp wrote: Tue Dec 01, 2020 10:00 am That is unacceptable. Some people connect to other transit and 30 minutes is too long and will cause people to miss their connecting ride. A subway is not like a commuter rail that operates every 30 minutes like VRE doese

We'll a COVID-19 vaccine before summer, so hopefully, we return to some normalcy.
I agree it’s unacceptable, but if your reps act like they aren’t answerable to anyone in the middle of a national and world crisis... this is what you get.

And at this point they may as well just sell off Van Dorn (my home station) because it’s obvious WMATA doesn’t want it. Always one of the first to go. In fact, they also got Morgan Blvd, East Falls Church, and Virginia Square, which together make up about 90% of my Metro use :angry:
 #1563439  by davinp
 
Sand Box John wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:57 pm Peak Fares Without Peak Service
Metro changes how often trains will run
Matthew Delaney
WTOP 103.5 FM
02 14 2021 20:58 EST
I don't like they make you wait longer for a train. I don't have time to wait 10 minutes or more when I need to connect to the VRE. Also, why does the red line get special treatment not having the extra time between trains?
 #1563444  by STrRedWolf
 
davinp wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:48 pm I don't like they make you wait longer for a train. I don't have time to wait 10 minutes or more when I need to connect to the VRE. Also, why does the red line get special treatment not having the extra time between trains?
It doesn't share the track with different lines. They want to keep headways at 6 minutes inside city center. So you gotta have them faster on the Red Line.
 #1563569  by Sand Box John
 
STrRedWolf
It doesn't share the track with different lines. They want to keep headways at 6 minutes inside city center. So you gotta have them faster on the Red Line.


It is also the most heavily used line.
 #1578397  by Sand Box John
 
Metro Fare Service-Changes 09 05 2021
WMATA Press Release
08 16 2021

Metro customers have more reasons to ride with new discounts, more trains and buses starting September 5

Metro is making changes that will make riding easier and more convenient as the region resumes school, leisure activities, and returns to workplaces. Beginning September 5, Metro will add more buses and trains, offer lower prices, and extend Metrorail’s operating hours on weekends.

The changes, approved by Metro’s Board of Directors in June, followed extensive public input about how riders plan to travel. The service and pricing improvements are designed to make Metro a more affordable, attractive way to go and to meet customer needs for more service at all times of the day, not just during rush hour.

“This is a time of change for Metro and our customers, and it’s an opportunity to make our service work better for all riders whether they take Metro to work, the grocery store, visit family or friends or just get around town,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “We are adding more rail and bus service, more hours, and working with businesses and the community to ensure the service will be there when riders need it.”

Among the service improvements, Metro will add more buses on the busiest lines to better serve customers throughout the day, reduce average wait times for buses during the day, restore more service that had been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and provide free bus transfers between rail and discounted passes.

On Metrorail, more trains will run during off-peak hours with average wait times ranging between 2-7 minutes any time of day. Trains will also run longer, closing later overnight on weekends, and opening earlier on Sundays.

“As the region goes back to work and school, we will be ready with service that is convenient any time of the day and offers the flexibility riders need,” said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We are also making Metro the best way to go on weekends, with less wait times for trains and just $2 for a one-way trip anywhere on the rail system.”

The service improvements will bring overall bus and rail service to near pre-pandemic levels, providing 97 percent of pre-Covid service levels on Metrobus and 91 percent on Metrorail. On some bus routes, and off-peak on rail, service will be even better than it had been before the pandemic.

Metro will also offer up to a 50 percent discount on selected unlimited pass products between September 16 and October 15.

The following discounts and service changes will be effective beginning Sunday, September 5:

Discounts:
  • Free bus transfers - If you connect between rail and bus, the bus ride will now be free for all routes except Express service.
  • Lower rail fares on weekends - Weekend fares on Metrorail will be $2 for a one-way trip, instead of the current distance-based fare making almost any ride, anywhere on weekends cheaper than ever.
  • Lower prices for 7-day Regional Bus Pass – Customers will now pay just $12 for a 7-day Regional Bus Pass, $6 for seniors/disabled customers, a savings of 20%.
Metrobus:
  • More buses on the most popular Metrobus services – On 36 lines, riders will see more buses, more often between 7 a.m.-9 p.m., 7 days a week.
  • New and restored service – Customers on 10 routes will have new service added or service restored.
  • Less waiting between buses on additional routes – Buses on more than 40 other routes will provide more frequent service for customers.
  • More buses day and night – A detailed list of all the service changes can be found on the Metrobus Service Changes page.
Metrorail:
  • More trains, not just during rush hour – Customers can expect to wait no more than 3-6 minutes for a train on weekdays at any station served by multiple lines and on the Red Line, all-day until 9:30 p.m.
  • Improved late-night train service – More trains every hour after 9:30 p.m., every 5-8 minutes at any station served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.
  • Later closing on Friday and Saturday – Metrorail will stay open until 1 a.m. instead of midnight on Friday and Saturday. That’s one hour more to be out and about.
  • Earlier opening on Sunday - Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. on Sunday. That’s one hour earlier to get your day started.
  • More trains on weekends too – Get where you want to go faster, with more trains, more often on the weekends, every 5-8 minutes at any station served by multiple lines and every 10 minutes on the Red Line.
Additional information about Metro’s discount fare and service changes can be found at wmata.com/changes.