Budget
Riders pack efficient hearing to push for Option 4
Over 170 riders gave their opinions of the WMATA FY2010 budget at last night's hearing. Almost all argued against service cuts, and among those who picked one of the four options, they overwhelmingly recommended Option 4, the 10¢ 4-month fare hike.
Image by iMetro.
Many noted the difficult choice Metro faces; both the Examiner and WAMU quoted Rodney Green, who analogized the situation to a hero in an action movie where the villain makes him chose between cutting off an arm or putting out an eye. (WAMU also quoted me on the dangers of the "death spiral.")
A number loudly called for the resignation of Metro's management and/or Board, often to applause from the audience. But for every rider voicing their understandable frustration with exhortations that would be counterproductive, another gave considered and constructive input.
The large number of riders was no surprise, but more unexpected was Metro's efficient handling of the huge crowds packing WMATA HQ, which no room large enough for all the people, and the speedy conduct of the hearing.
The line outside. Photo by iMetro.
Metro split up the speakers into two rooms, with about half the Board members in each, and quickly moved through the speakers limiting everyone to two minutes. As the main rooms cleared, they invited people waiting in the overflow rooms to move. Metro staff were everywhere with large, prominent name tags, directing traffic.
They took speakers in the order they checked in, rather than the order they signed up. While I'd signed up early and was about #15 on the list, I got speaking number 50 out of about 70 speakers signed up in advance. Everyone who didn't sign up got to go after the registered speakers. I assumed that, with 49 people scheduled before me, I'd be waiting until about 10:30 for the hearing which began a bit after 5:30, but to my surprise, I spoke at 7:15. By 7:30 the other of the two rooms, which was moving even faster, had completely finished their speaker list.
The Board will debate the budget at their meeting today. It starts at 11, but with the budget late on the agenda, it might be well into the afternoon before we know more.
 | David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.   |
Comments
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by Alex B. on Jan 28, 2010 10:19 am • link • report
Yesterday, Michael pointed me/us in a general direction of where to look for live tweets, and I went there, but they didn't seem very "live" to me. And they didn't seem to be David's. Maybe for the future, GGW could just say follow our tweets here and post a link. This would be helpful for those who don't tweet.
by Jazzy on Jan 28, 2010 10:25 am • link • report
by Michael Perkins on Jan 28, 2010 10:40 am • link • report
by Matthias on Jan 28, 2010 10:42 am • link • report
by David Alpert on Jan 28, 2010 10:43 am • link • report
by Michael Perkins on Jan 28, 2010 10:50 am • link • report
by Redline SOS on Jan 28, 2010 10:53 am • link • report
If only you were Metro GM, you could enlighten us on this secret plan you have to fix all of WMATA's problems.
by MLD on Jan 28, 2010 12:53 pm • link • report
Can't; that plan is proprietary. :)
by Bossi on Jan 28, 2010 5:06 pm • link • report
The longsuffering Mr Catoe's staff stabbed him again at the hearing. First they could not make his presentation appear, and then, after something went up, he croaked in despair that it was not the right thing.
by Turnip on Jan 28, 2010 6:13 pm • link • report
by Bossi on Jan 29, 2010 9:26 am • link • report
Why are local Governments paying John Catoe $300,000+ a year plus a $60K yearly housing allowance? That is an outrage. Metro has been overpaying the unions as well as executives for years.
And local Governments continue to subsidize it.
Transit subsidies are vastly out of proportion to other modes of transportation and have made transit the most expensive way to travel. In subsidies, it costs about $.15 per passenger mile when you fly, $.24 per passenger mile to drive and on average $.80 per passenger mile to take rail transit. Using that figure, my commute each way between Alexandria and D.C. by rail costs Metro $7.20 for a $2.65 fare. See the problem?
Governments, which are not good at running businesses, have thrown enough of our taxpayer dollars down the Metro well. Privatizing will allow transit companies to compete to provide innovative transit options that we ALL can enjoy. We riders will get better service, and our communities will benefit as well.
by LeeHinAlexandria on Jan 29, 2010 3:39 pm • link • report
Compete against whom?
by Neil Flanagan on Jan 29, 2010 3:55 pm • link • report
Compete against whom?
by Neil Flanagan on Jan 29, 2010 3:55 pm
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Against each other to provide competition for consumers/riders to provide better service and lower cost.
by LeeHinAlexandria on Jan 29, 2010 4:00 pm • link • report
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