WMATA Riders' Council meeting on the WMATA budget (Tuesday)

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From Dennis Jaffe, chair, Metro Riders' Advisory Council:

The MRAC will hold a special meeting open to the public on Tuesday, July 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the FY08 Budget at Metro Headquarters at 600 5th Street, NW. There is official talk that Metro is considering a fare increase for the FY08 Budget, which will begin in less than one year on July 1, 2007. Might this apply to Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess? Do you want to have input into the shaping of the budget?

The Metro Riders' Advisory Council is working to ensure that there is a meaningful voice for riders in the budget process for the first time ever. Getting that meaningful voice won't be easy. We need to effectively impress upon the Metro Board of Directors and the General Manager that citizens have strong interest in seriously participating in the budget process.

Would a fare increase be justified, or bad public policy? What about increasing train and bus fares during rush hour and decreasing them during other times to reduce overcrowding? Which expenses can be reduced? Or can and should local government funding for transit be increased to avoid an increase? An increased federal investment may be on its way -- but it isn't likely just yet.

This briefing is expected to be a detailed presentation that will provide a useful foundation for the public to understand and evaluate the FY08 Budget. Actual expense and revenue projections are not yet fully available. We continue to impress upon Metro the importance of timely, public availability of the agency's fiscal projections for FY08. The Board of Directors is currently scheduled to issue to staff in September its official "Guidance," which includes whether or not to increase fares.

The briefing will include presentations by Charles Woodruff, Chief Financial Officer, and Rick Harcum, Budget Director; a question and answer session with the Riders' Advisory Council; and a public question and answer session.

Index Keywords: transit