“We encourage the Biden-Harris administration to renew the federal government’s commitment to Metro’s future and strongly consider joining the three jurisdictions as our fourth partner in a [Metro] funding agreement,” the letter said. “We strongly believe that maintaining a safe and reliable public transit system for the nation’s capital is a national priority and should be treated in that way.”
Like many transit agencies, Metro is struggling with an unprecedented budget crisis since the pandemic wiped out fare revenue because of a steep drop in riders this year — the result of increased telecommuting, unemployment and virus transmission fears.
The agency has announced a buyout program to retirement-eligible workers to cut 1,400 positions because of a $176.5 million deficit this fiscal year.
Metro projects that ridership will stay at lower levels in the coming months. The agency proposed cutting an additional 2,400 positions, eliminating weekend rail service, cutting bus service by half and closing 19 stations starting in July to meet a projected $494.5 million shortfall in the next fiscal year.
In April, the federal government provided Metro and other transit agencies with a $25 billion bailout that was part of the $2 trillion stimulus known as the Cares Act. About $767 million went to Metro, but officials said that money will run out by March.
Transit agencies have asked Congress for a second bailout, and lawmakers have said they are making progress this week on negotiating another federal stimulus that could include transit funding. But talks have been ongoing for weeks, and Metro officials said there’s no guarantee they will receive enough money to stop the proposed cuts.
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