DC Metro Could Close Up To 22 Stations Without More Funding

WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's proposed budget for fiscal year 2022 calls for up to 22 Metro station closures and some bus route cuts if additional federal funding is not provided.

The changes could be effective on Jan. 1, 2022 if the current proposal is adopted by Metro's Board of Directors. According to a statement on Metro's website, the transit agency is facing a budget shortfall due to diminished ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. A federal relief package in December 2020 provided funds to help Metro avoid layoffs, continue providing essential service and preparing for the ridership to return. Metro says that federal funding and actions such as limiting contractors and reducing Metro's workforce by attrition cannot make up for the entire budget gap for fiscal year 2022, which begins on July 1, 2021.

Metro officials are pushing for the region's Congressional delegation to secure additional funding. Metro believes service cuts and layoffs would start in 2022 without additional federal funding.

The proposed budget plan calls for Metro to keep its current Metrorail service levels and increase Metrobus service gradually through the end of the 2021 calendar year. But on Jan. 1 2022, Metro proposes closing up to 22 Metro stations with low ridership near other stations. Those could include three stations not yet open as part of the phase two Silver Line extension — Innovation Center, Loudoun Gateway, and Reston Town Center.

The stations that could be closed are Archives, Arlington Cemetery, Cheverly, Clarendon, Cleveland Park, College Park-University of Maryland, East Falls Church, Eisenhower Ave, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Greensboro, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Innovation Center, Judiciary Square, Loudoun Gateway, McLean, Morgan Boulevard, Mount Vernon Square, Reston Town Center, Smithsonian, Van Dorn Street and Virginia Square-GMU.

Under the proposal, Metro would run trains every 30 minutes on all lines, with the exception of the Red Line between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring, which would run every 15 minutes. Metrorail would close at 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

Some Metrobus routes would be eliminated in DC, Maryland and Virgnia, and others would continue to operate at 2021 levels with modifications to the route, hours or frequency. Metro has outlined proposed changes for DC, Maryland and Virginia. There are no proposed changes for MetroAccess.

The other proposed change calls for parking fee reductions at stations in Prince George's County, Maryland. The proposed fee would be $4.45 for Addison Road and Prince George’s Plaza; $4.95 for Branch Avenue, Capitol Heights, Cheverly, College Park-University of Maryland, Greenbelt, Largo Town Center, Morgan Boulevard, Naylor Road, New Carrollton, Suitland, Southern Avenue and West Hyattsville. The $3 fee for Landover is proposed to remain the same.

Metrorail ridership has decreased most years in the last decade, but the most significant decline happened in 2020 due to the pandemic. According to Metro data, average daily ridership declined each year from 2011 to 2018. Ridership increased in 2019 to 626,000 average daily riders before a significant drop to 177,000 average daily riders in 2020. So far in 2021, average daily ridership is 77,000. Metro estimates Metrorail ridership is down 90 percent and Metrobus ridership is down 60 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Riders can provide feedback through an online survey by 5 p.m. on March 16 or call toll-free 844-468-5748. There are also several public hearings planned from March 8 to 10. Public feedback will be given to the Metro’s Board of Directors as part of the decision-making process in April.

See more information at www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget.