Metro wants your feedback on its FY2021 budget

Includes expanded hours, fare and service changes

Metro is inviting the public to comment on its proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which aims to improve service and fare options, support ridership growth, and manage costs for the transit agency. Metro’s budget year begins July 1.

Several key initiatives are being considered, including:

• Extend service hours. Metrorail would return to a midnight closing time Monday through Thursday and stay open until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays
• Bus service improvements. More weekend service on high-ridership routes, improved service and frequency on several MetroExtra routes
• Elimination of transfer fees between Bus and Rail. Transfers between Metrorail and regular Metrobus services would be free
• Metrorail fare changes. Fares during peak periods would increase for the first time in three years, and mileage tiers would be simplified
• Metrobus fare changes. Under the proposal, customers paying or loading their SmarTrip card with cash would pay $0.25 more
• Weekend flat fare for Metrorail. A simple, easy-to-remember price regardless of where you start and end your trip
• Metrobus changes to operate efficiently. Including elimination of selected low-ridership routes in combination with service enhancements and restructuring on other routes

Full details, including a fare calculator to see how proposed changes would affect you, is available at wmata.com/budget

How to provide feedback

Metro’s Board of Directors considers public comment prior to making key decisions about the budget, along with fare and service changes. Customers may provide budget feedback online, in person, or by mail through Monday, March 2, 2020, at 5 pm:

1. Take the online survey and provide comments
2. Attend Metro’s open house in Arlington: Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, at the Hilton Arlington, 950 N. Stafford St, Arlington, VA 22203. Open house starts at 6 pm, and the public hearing starts at 6:30 pm
3. Submit written comments by mail to: Office of the Board Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth St., NW, Washington, DC 20001

Parking impacts begin March 15 at three Orange Line stations in advance of summer platform reconstruction

Metro’s 2020 summer shutdown on the Orange Line is still more than three months away, but “pre-construction” activity to support the massive platform-rebuilding project will begin in a matter of weeks, including major parking changes. Metro is urging customers who park at these stations to start planning now.

Beginning Sunday, March 15, the surface parking lots at East Falls Church, West Falls Church, and Vienna stations will be closed for seven to nine months, as construction contractors begin the process of moving material and machines into place.

Once these lots close, there will be no parking available at East Falls Church, severely limited parking at West Falls Church, and reduced parking at Vienna Station. Parking at Dunn Loring station is not impacted.

East Falls Church

• The surface parking lot will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
• The Kiss & Ride lot will remain open for pick-up and drop-off only
• Additional parking is available at Dunn Loring

West Falls Church

• Surface parking lots will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
• The parking garage will remain open
• Parking space will be severely limited and is expected to fill before 7 am

Vienna

• Parking Lot 1 will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
• The parking garages and Parking Lot 3 (south side) will remain open. The entrances to these lots can be accessed from Saintsburry Road

Dunn Loring

• No parking closed
• Customers who park at Dunn Loring station must use their SmarTrip card to pay for parking to avoid being charged the higher, non-rider fee.

Additional parking information is available at wmata.com/service/parking