MetroNow Dispatch 6.2022
In this month’s Dispatch we 🚨 for Metro’s management challenges, 🥵 over bus fares, and praise our June Transit Champions for being Born This Way 👏.
Maryland Legislators Question Metro on Safety
The Transportation & Environment Committee of the Maryland Legislature met on June 1, convening County officials, Metro, and regulatory executives to discuss the state of WMATA. When asked about Metro’s ongoing challenges, David Mayer, CEO of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission said, “Metro’s organizational structure is complicated, and it is confusing, and, in my opinion, it often leads to more than one department having overlapping or unclear responsibilities that may be an underlying cause in some of the activities going undone and that concerns me and very bluntly I think it is something for the incoming general manager to take a hard look at.”
Mayer’s comments call into question WMATA’s progress in creating a culture of transparency and accountability throughout the organization. There is obviously much more work to be done. In the coming months, it will be imperative that WMATA leadership make progress against these issues to have any shot at securing more regional funding to close the fiscal operating cliff when the federal COVID transit relief money runs out July 1, 2023.
MetroNow looks forward to working with Randy Clarke, WMATA’s incoming General Manager (GM), who starts July 25, as we continue to advocate for the structural and operational reforms needed to make WMATA safer, and more accountable. This includes establishing clear lines of responsibility, and modern data and management practices, that make it easy to track performance and progress both internally and externally.
For some positive news we hope to see more of, WMATA began returning 7000-series railcars to the tracks after more than eight-months.
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A first look at plans for the new Union Station in D.C. (WaPo 6.16.22)
“They show a spacious, light-filled atrium with large skylights and soaring ceilings. The overhaul will add wide rail platforms, an attached bus terminal and updated concourses lined with shops and restaurants that provide easy access to Metrorail, buses, taxis, ride-shares, streetcars and parking.”Maryland and Virginia Senators Urge WMATA Acting GM To Keep Prioritizing Safety Culture At Metro (Chris Van Hallen 6.15.22)
“U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (Both D-Va.) are calling on Metro Interim General Manager Andy Off to use his remaining time at the helm of the region’s public transit agency to “productively to lay the groundwork for a lasting course correction that reaches deep within Metro that values rules, procedures, transparency, and accountability as a matter of routine.”Metro is short on trains, drivers – and public confidence (WaPo 6.06.22)
“Those problems strongly suggest that rehabilitating Metro would be a daunting enough problem were it on a sound budgetary footing. In fact, the agency is on financial life support in the form of a huge infusion of federal pandemic stimulus funds, which will start to run out next summer.”Travel Alternatives Announced For Metro Shutdowns in Alexandria (Patch 6.15.22)
“The shutdowns are planned in two phases: the first for the new Potomac Yard Metro cutover and the second for Yellow Line bridge and tunnel work.”
Regional Bus Roundup 🚌💨💨
As temperatures rise 🥵, bus fares are up and down 💸. Alexandria’s DASH and Fairfax CUE both continue to offer fare-free service to all riders. Meanwhile, Fairfax County Supervisors are considering ways to make fares for the Fairfax Connector more affordable, which may include low-or-no fare solutions. However, the Montgomery County Ride On will institute a $1 fare beginning this July, ending a two year experiment providing free transit services to residents – first sparked by the COVID epidemic and extended thanks to the advocacy of the Better Buses Coalition in Montgomery led by the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
Meanwhile, WMATA has kicked off the regional bus network redesign called for in the Bus Transformation Project. See WMATA’s update and our report card on its progress.
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Free Fairfax Connector Bus Fares To Be Studied By County Staff (Patch, VA 6.08.22)
"Inflation and gas prices have dramatically increased, making it significantly harder for Fairfax County residents to commute to work every day as well as travel to other vital destinations," said McKay. "Thus it has become apparent that the need for more affordable public transportation must be addressed."As Congress bankrolls electric conversion for bus fleets, is Virginia ready? (Virginia Mercury 6.08.22)
“To expedite their efforts, DASH has split its procurement of battery electric buses and chargers evenly across America’s two largest manufacturers: Proterra and New Flyer. By testing out equipment from both companies, Mui expects his agency will be able to teach other transit providers across the commonwealth about how to electrify their fleets right.”
MetroNow Bus Champions Speaker Series
Speaking of buses – later this month the Greater Washington Partnership, together with the Tysons Partnership, will host a conversation about the path to zero emissions bus fleets with special guests, Circe Torruellas of DDOT, Kate Staples of Dominion Energy, and John Schiavone of Transit Workforce Center. Join these regional experts and practitioners leading the charge toward zero emissions as they discuss transit, energy, and human infrastructure needed to effectively transition and maintain a fully zero-emission bus fleet, as well as the opportunities and roadblocks our region should be most focused on. The one-hour webinar event is free, and is scheduled for June 30, at 12pm. Tell your friends!
TRANSIT CHAMPIONS OF THE MONTH 🏆: DC CIRCULATOR & MOCA 🏳️🌈🚌🏳️🌈
Last week, DC Circulator and the Mayor’s Council on Community Affairs released a glamorous-transitious advertisement for DC Pride, bringing together transit, paper fans, drag queens, and catwalk strutting -- all to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” Thank you to the performers, the staff of MOCA, and of course the DC Circulator and all the bus drivers out there every day helping the region celebrate Pride Month. Three cheers for standing up for safe and inclusive public transportation!
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Why do so many queer folks love urbanism? (GGWash 6.07.22)
“Why our community’s marginalization leads us to be disproportionately engaged on urban issues makes perfect sense to Spinks: “If you see in your experience of the world that your block or city is not designed to be welcoming to you whether you are Black, disabled, or gay, that triggers a desire to make change.”
Ridership Milestones and Updates 🏅
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Metrorail ridership may soon surpass Metrobus ridership. This likely reflects return to the office, more people dining out, and the return of tourists. But let’s not forget how important the bus proved to be for our workforce during the pandemic and will continue to be. This makes the regional bus network redesign critically important to creating a more frequent and reliable system that improves access to jobs and opportunity, don’t you think?
Let’s say it together … for the 100th time … NOW IS THE TIME FOR BETTER BUS!
🎵 WMATA can you hear me? 🎵
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VRE considering free rides for September (6.20.22)
“There are a lot of transit agencies looking at moving to a free or reduced-fare model long-term or permanently, and that’s not what we’re talking about here. What we’re talking about is giving people an option during the upcoming shutdown and taking advantage of this opportunity to attract new riders and promote VRE. Because we know when people try VRE, they like it,” said Fairfax County Supervisor and VRE Vice Chair James Walkinshaw.”
Without Commuters, US Transit Agencies Are Running Out of Options (6.16.22)
“There’s no doubt that there are challenges ahead beyond our next fiscal year,” Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg said in a statement. But with discounts, better service, new stations and additional projects, a better customer experience could bring riders back in force, he said. “Metro is well poised to support the region and grow ridership.”
WMATA Ridership Announcement (WMATA Twitter 6.06.22)
In June, Metro achieved a milestone of 10 million trips on the new Mobile Pay system! Learn more about how you can use it here.Ridership up for VRE, OmniRide (INSIDENOVA 6.13.22)
In May, OmniRide reached 50% of pre-COVID ridership levels and VRE, 30%. “The coming 2023 fiscal year, which begins July 1, will be crucial for every transit agency in the region as federal pandemic relief money that has been used to backfill losses in fare revenue begins to run out. If bus and rail operators can’t meet budget ridership goals, they could have to cut service, which in itself can turn away riders by making the service less useful.”Anger and heartbreak on Bus No. 15 (Washington Post, 6.06.22)
She opened the exit door and turned back to the passenger. “Get off,” she said, blinking back tears, pleading this time. He stared back at her and shook his head. “Fine,” she said, and she stood up from her seat and walked off the bus.
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The MetroNow Coalition is made up of regional leaders from the business, non-profit, and advocacy communities who believe that transit is designed to bring us together —at work, school, and play. Today, we believe our collective advocacy for better transit for the Washington DC region is more important than ever.
We launched the MetroNow Dispatch to bring residents, leaders, and transit agencies together to think about how we can make better transit today, during the pandemic, and “tomorrow,” as we look beyond recovery to how we can build a more equitable, sustainable, and accessible transportation system for our region.