To help fix budget shortfall, Metro could close 20 stations during off-peak hours under proposal
WASHINGTON - Metro is trying to come up with solutions to make up for a $275 million budget shortfall. One of the latest ideas is to close some Metro stations during off-peak hours.
In a map presented last week regarding Metro's operating budget, a total of 20 stations are a part of this proposal and include six stations in D.C. and seven stations each in Maryland and Virginia. The stops include:
- White Flint
- Forest Glen
- Spring Hill
- Greensboro
- McLean
- West Falls Church-VT/UVA
- Virginia Square-GMU
- Van Dorn Street
- Eisenhower Avenue
- Congress Heights
- Naylor Road
- Stadium-Armory
- Benning Road
- Capital Heights
- Addison Road-Seat Pleasant
- Morgan Boulevard
- Minnesota Avenue
- Deanwood
- Cheverly
- Landover
However, this option is nowhere close to happening and Metro Board Chair Jack Evans said there are other funding options he would rather utilize.
"All of these ideas were put forward by our General Manager Paul Wiedefeld," said Evans. "And again, he doesn't have a position on any of these. He is saying these are our options. For instance, we could get $275 million from the three jurisdictions - $100 [million] from Maryland, $100 [million] from D.C., $75 [million] from Virginia and we're done. If that doesn't happen, then we have to get it somewhere else. We could raise fares 35 percent, which is unrealistic. People would just stop riding Metro. So you could raise fares a little bit and reduce service - reduce bus service, you could reduce the amount of Metro trains running, you could close stops that are being suggested."
While Evans said he would like D.C., Maryland and Virginia to pitch in more money, the governors of Maryland and Virginia have previously said they will not provide any more money for the transit system until they see proof of improvements.