Metro Board Chairman says proposed late-night service cuts should last no longer than 1 year

WASHINGTON - Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans said he would be willing to accept proposed late-night service cuts to D.C.'s transit system on a temporary basis.

Evans, other councilmembers and D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser met Tuesday morning at the Wilson Building. Among other thing, they discussed the proposal from Metro that would cut rail service hours following the completion of the SafeTrack maintenance program.

On Monday, Bowser rejected a compromise proposed by Metro that would have restored only some late-night service. She said that the proposal fell short of meeting the needs of riders.

Evans said Tuesday that he would recommend the Metro Board agree to end service early for only one year's time. After that he said he would want full service restored to the way it was before the SafeTrack plan.

The Metro board will vote Thursday on the discussed proposal. Under that proposal, rail service would end at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld has said that closing at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday would allow for a two-year maintenance program to continue after SafeTrack officially ends in the spring of next year.

"Our position on WMATA's late-night service has not changed: soon after SafeTrack, late night operations should resume, "a statement from the Mayor's office released on Monday said. "As the nation's capital and home to over 670,000 residents, we need a Metro system that works for everyone - residents, workers, employers, and visitors. That means having a Metro that stays open late as the region continues to grow. The staff recommendation falls far short of what we owe all riders: a safe, reliable system that meets their needs."