Arlington formally offers Fair Share for Metro; Maryland delinquency continues

Budget

Arlington formally offers Fair Share for Metro; Maryland delinquency continues

by David Alpert • April 26, 2010 3:28 pm

Arlington County has finalized their budget including more money for WMATA, the Post reported this weekend.

Photo by jypsygen.

County Board member Chris Zimmerman, who is also Arlington's representative on the WMATA Board, specifically talked about transit funding:

"Arlington is saying if the other jurisdictions will step up to the plate, we will be willing to ensure that we don't retract service [and] that we don't cut back on the investment in the infrastructure by raiding the [Metro] capital budget, as is potentially on the table," said [Zimmerman] ... He said he believes Northern Virginia is committed to doing so, but is not sure about the District and Maryland.

As Craig noted this morning, Maryland is currently looking at making extra bus cuts rather than increasing their contribution. Interim GM Richard Sarles' budget proposal asks Maryland for $13.9 million, of which $3.5 million will come from the state and somewhat less than $3.8 million could involve bus cuts.

The rest will have to involve state or local money. The Maryland legislature passed a bill to limit taxes for Park and Planning that would cost Prince George's $18 million. According to a source familiar with the situation, a potential deal is in the works for Governor O'Malley to veto it in exchange for the County using some of the local funds it saves to close the WMATA budget gap.

Meanwhile, on the capital front, Kytja Weir finally breaks the press cone of silence by covering the O'Malley Administration's push to reduce maintenance spending.

Weir also notes that "The board is using the annual $300 million to displace about $138 million of the local contributions by jurisdictions, says Jack Corbett, of the MetroRiders.org transit group. "Congress intended this as new money, not replacement money," he said.

Congress approved $150 million a year in new capital money as long as it was matched by jurisdictions, one-third from each. Some, including Corbett, expressed fears at the time that jurisdictions would just count some of their existing capital "overmatch" from Metro Matters toward their $50 million. At January's RAC meeting, I specifically asked WMATA Board Chairman and Maryland member Peter Benjamin whether Maryland would do this; he said they would not. Clearly, a lot has changed.

At today's DC Council budget hearing on DDOT, Committee Chairman and DC WMATA Board member Jim Graham strongly emphasized that DC does not want to see the capital budget cut and he is not pleased with the sudden windfall of capital money DC won't be giving WMATA.

Graham also said the WMATA General Counsel has issued an opinion on a technical but important question: Whether Maryland's lack of payment for capital obligations in FY2010 is a "failure to pay" or a "failure to appropriate." Apparently, Metro Matters says that if a jurisdiction doesn't pay what is promised, WMATA can borrow the money on its behalf and charge interest, but if the legislature of that jurisdiction just never appropriates the money, they can't. There was some question about which it was, and for at least some of the money, the General Counsel believes it's a "failure to pay."

I'm trying to get a copy of the letter. As is sadly the case with most of this sordid saga, it was handed out to Board members in executive session. This is a legal opinion so it could be valid, but WMATA management and the Board continue to keep many details from the public.

21 comments

Tags: Arlington, DC, Jim Graham, Maryland, Metro Matters, Peter Benjamin, Virginia, WMATA budget

Maryland opposing Metro Matters renewal (Apr 8, 2010)
We can't let Governor O'Malley sabotage Metro (Apr 23, 2010)
WMATA Board approves public hearings (Mar 4, 2010)
Maryland comes through for transit (May 6, 2010)
Washington Post endorses Fair Share for Metro (Mar 31, 2010)

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.

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How have WMATA board members from Maryland responded? Are they parroting the O'Malley line?

by Eric F. on Apr 26, 2010 4:31 pm • link • report

Someone suggested before that Metro just stop serving areas in Maryland to punish them for not paying. I think this should be taken into consideration because beyond the obvious punishment that Metro would deal out, it would also result in lower costs. I can imagine that running a train to Capitol Heights instead of all the way to Largo would result in having to run fewer trains while maintaining the same headway, right?

Obviously this would be a huge inconvenience to the people that actually use the Metro and who don't individually have power over these decisions, but if enough of those people (and enough drivers angry at the corresponding, sudden uptick in traffic) make some noise, I'm sure some money will magically appear.

by Teo on Apr 26, 2010 4:33 pm • link • report

The problem with just ending service to Maryland stations, besides that there are no true turnaround points, are that 3 stations on the line (Silver Spring, Southern Ave, Capitol Heights) get significant foot traffic from DC.

This doesn't consider stations in DC with considerable Maryland foot traffic (Takoma) or the curious case of Friendship Heights (full station in DC, exits into MD).

by Jason on Apr 26, 2010 4:38 pm • link • report

@ Jason: That doesn't matter. Nobody is suggesting this as a permanent situation. This would just be to drive the point home that you gotta pay to play. And if DC doesn't pay either, I say kill service in DC as well, and just run in VA. That would yield enormous savings, as you can close the red and green lines. Is there a track that would allow blue lines to continue to Vienna and the orange ones to continue to King St?

by Jasper on Apr 26, 2010 4:56 pm • link • report

It would have been nice to note, as the Washington Post did, that Arlington's generosity is based on several tax and fee increases. The total proposed increase for WMATA funding is $3.6 million. What happens if other jurisdictions agree for a lower budget -- that is just bonus money for Arlington?

Not trying to be suspicious, and I think Arlington may/should pay more in Metro given how critical it is for the Orange line corridor, but I have to say that headline takes away the pay increases (one step) to county employees and a one time payment to their highest paid employees.

by charlie on Apr 26, 2010 6:45 pm • link • report

Jasper asked: Is there a track that would allow blue lines to continue to Vienna and the orange ones to continue to King St?

Sadly, no there isn't.

by Froggie on Apr 26, 2010 8:19 pm • link • report

Sigh, the anti-Maryland diatribe continues...I wonder where Mr. Alpert lives.

by King Terrapin on Apr 26, 2010 11:49 pm • link • report

As for "breaking the cone of silence," the Examiner will always jump at the opportunity to attack a Democrat.

by King Terrapin on Apr 27, 2010 12:01 am • link • report

He lives in DC as he has mentioned plenty of times on here...

by NikolasM on Apr 27, 2010 12:01 am • link • report

If you live in Arlington, now is the time to email the County Board and thank them for their leadership.

Even if you don't like the rest of the budget, thank them for supporting a fair share for Metro.

by Gavin on Apr 27, 2010 12:04 am • link • report

Teo - Someone suggested before that Metro just stop serving areas in Maryland to punish them for not paying. I think this should be taken into consideration because beyond the obvious punishment that Metro would deal out, it would also result in lower costs. I can imagine that running a train to Capitol Heights instead of all the way to Largo would result in having to run fewer trains while maintaining the same headway, right?

re: If that were to happen that WILL MEAN BAD NEWS FOR METRO because it will spinoff to a MAJOR BOYCOTT to the point that METRO WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS and the transit projects in Virginia will be screwed indefinitely.....

It will be nice if MTA out of New York/New Jersey Buy out METRO and then hopefully DC will get Express Subway Service that should have been included when they first built METRO.......

by tim on Apr 27, 2010 2:06 am • link • report

Jasper- @ Jason: That doesn't matter. Nobody is suggesting this as a permanent situation. This would just be to drive the point home that you gotta pay to play. And if DC doesn't pay either, I say kill service in DC as well, and just run in VA. That would yield enormous savings, as you can close the red and green lines. Is there a track that would allow blue lines to continue to Vienna and the orange ones to continue to King St?

re: All of this coming out the closet dictating crap from Virginians is going to be the antidote of what ruins Virginia and its healthy Economic Business Wealth in the long run........

I hop they do pull that stunt because it will be music to my ears to hear about ALL of those High Tech Jobs in NOVA jumping across the Potomac into Maryland btw of Democratic anti-Growth Lawmakers in Maryland getting thrown out of their political seats for allowing Virginia to ruin Maryland's Transit, Highway, and Business Growth......

I say BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!

by tim on Apr 27, 2010 2:12 am • link • report

King Terrapin- Sigh, the anti-Maryland diatribe continues...I wonder where Mr. Alpert lives.

re: Are you being sarcastic or have you just now started reading these topics.

I figured awhile back that most of the posters are of anti-Maryland Virginians that posted heavily in relations to the scare tactics and disrespectful comments about the I-270 HOT Lanes Widening and the MASSIVE Gaithersburg West Development all because they FEAR that it will make Suburban Maryland more competitive against Virginia in Business Growth, Highway Expansions, and Transit Options.......

Any High Dense Projects that bring Dense Offices and High End Retail Growth to Suburban Maryland(except near Selected transit stations) along with building/widening Highways in Maryland will cause these people to come out the wood works Slamming Maryland for improving highway transportation and increasing its Business and Economic Growth while ignoring the Fact that Northern Virginia continues to Build Rapidly further away from the DC area that is no where near any transit Centers BTW of building new highways and widening highways with Express HOT Lanes to accommodate new growth further away from DC.......

by tim on Apr 27, 2010 2:30 am • link • report

Yes, thank the Arlington board for raising property taxes by 9.5%. And property values have not fallen as they have in other counties, so this is a hike. Arlington even acknowledges that it will cost the "average" homeowner $346 a year more in property taxes. (http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Communications/PressReleases/page76110.aspx)

They irresponsibly increase the budget in a time when taxpayer's wages are falling and job security is uncertain. In my household when income falls, we spend less.

In Arlington, when income falls -- we tax more??

by Oliver on Apr 27, 2010 8:46 am • link • report

@tim

You want the MTA to buy out Metro?

The MTA has their own funding issues right now...

by Alex B. on Apr 27, 2010 8:50 am • link • report

@tim

MTA buying out Metro would not give us express service since we only have 2 tracks while nyc has 4 in most places that have the express service. This has been explained here before.

As for my alleged hate of Maryland, I think it's quite the opposite. I'd love to visit it more but the fact that Metro service is so bad there already (I don't have a car so I can't take advantage of the wonderfully wide highways you speak of) prevents me from visiting very often. I do appreciate the MARC as it gets me to BWI much faster than Metro would. Similarly, getting to FedEx field by Metro is convenient. But I'd rather bike to Silver Spring from Bethesda since it takes less time than taking the Metro.

Finally, I don't really care who has more jobs. The fact that VA has been able to attract more business is because it is better managed. But if MD gets more businesses, it would really only affect me positively as that might lead to better transit and then I would actually be able to visit more of your fine state.

by Teo on Apr 27, 2010 9:18 am • link • report

@King Terrapin - I'm puzzled by your response. Are you saying you support MD not ponying up $ for metro? It's one thing to express distaste with MD-centric attacks...but you aren't saying you disagree with the way that the MD funding short-changing is being proposed...please clarify your stance.

I used to live in MD, but moved to VA...however, I still work and go to grad school in PG Cty. Also, my Doctors are still in MoCo. I rely on metro to get to MD for everything besides my personal life, so I think I'm entitled to complain about their lackadaisical funding approach. Frankly, I'm surprised more Marylanders aren't outraged -- it seems like more Virginians are. Marylanders seem to just be on the defensive...

by Matt Glazewski on Apr 27, 2010 11:07 am • link • report

Matt Glazewski- @King Terrapin - I'm puzzled by your response. Are you saying you support MD not ponying up $ for metro? It's one thing to express distaste with MD-centric attacks...but you aren't saying you disagree with the way that the MD funding short-changing is being proposed...please clarify your stance.

re: The only reason you Virginians are taking our anger out against Maryland on the transit issue is because you people fear that your pet luxury Silver Line Subway transit token to Sprawlville aka Loudon County, VA is in Danger of getting Delayed of completion.....

Too bad soo sad, where were you people when the tax payers in PG County were questioning Metro's lack of commitment to add more Frequent Bus Services throughout the Entire County....

Oh thats right most of the tax payers in PG County are Black and since PG County is in Maryland no one in Virginia should ever dish out their tax dollars to help improve transit mobility in the Maryland Suburbs but according to Virginians: Maryland tax payers better give Virginia part of their taxes or else not only Virginia will help sabotage(by endorsing anti-Growth Democrat lawmakers running for MD state election/re-election) Maryland Highway Projects(like they always do) and Heavy Dense Office projects(like they always do such as the Hilton and NG) but also Transit accessibility and expansions.....

by tim on Apr 27, 2010 2:14 pm • link • report

Tim,

I'm not even sure if you're being serious at this point. But in case you are, here goes:

Since the Silver Line is being built entirely in Virginia, I believe that it is only Virginia that is paying for its construction. This is being accomplished by increasing tolls on the Dulles Toll Road and taxes in the surrounding area. Maryland not paying its dues has nothing to do with this.

PG not getting the transit it needs is another reason people are not happy with Maryland. Not only do people living there have a hard time reaching jobs and other places, people living elsewhere have a hard time reaching PG. Again, I'm not sure what this has to do with people criticizing Maryland for not paying its dues, except to demonstrate that the criticism is deserved.

Implying that people on this blog, or Virginians as a whole, are racist only detracts from any validity your argument might have had. Name calling and insults are never constructive.

by Teo on Apr 27, 2010 2:29 pm • link • report

@Tim -

First off, thanks for proving my point. Re the silver line...do your homework next time. The Dulles rail expansion is being paid for by Virginians. Period. Familiar with the Washington Area Airports Authority? You might want to check that one out. And as far as bus lines, I ride the C12/14, which is in danger of being cut. At every Metro public hearing I have attended since living in this area, I have advocated for bus service in PG County.

Your accusations are puerile, at best. Thanks for reading. Now go write a letter to your Governor.

And thanks, @Tim - you covered it well.

by Matt Glazewski on Apr 27, 2010 5:30 pm • link • report

Thanks Teo and Matt for proving my point that the criticism towards Maryland is done by Virginia Tax Payers wanting to bully Maryland Tax Payers into paying for their Silver Line Pet Project........

by tim on May 1, 2010 1:32 pm • link • report