WASHINGTON — Ridership for the DC Metro rail system has dropped below an average of 600,000 weekday trips — the lowest figure since 2000, before the original system was completed.
The Washington Post reports that the number of average trips for the period between July and December was 595,000, a significant fall from the 2008 peak of 750,000. And Metro is projecting further drops in the upcoming fiscal year as it undertakes major capital projects: beginning in May, six stations will be closed for three months as their platforms are rebuilt.
Metro’s general manager has proposed several initiatives to improve ridership in the budget for the 2020 fiscal year, which begins July 1. They include increased service on two routes, an expanded window of rush-hour service, longer trainsets, and a flat $2 weekend fare.
But outside observers, including Metro’s Riders’ Advisory Council, say the plans don’t go far enough, while Maryland and Virginia, which provide part of Metro’s funding, indicate they are unwilling to provide the extra funding needed for such moves.
“I think the board is very concerned about ridership,” Metro board Chairman Jack Evans told the Post. “But I think that at least with Maryland and Virginia, they are also very concerned about cost. And it appears the cost — at least as we got into these budget discussions — the cost was overrunning the ridership issue.”
Are early and late hours back yet? If not, when? Also, the feds should give extra cash after the govt shutdown caused ridership to plummet further at the start of the year…
It may be possible that one who has made up his mind about an issue, for any reason, might wish to wait and see ……..about Milw’s carline.
Re the Metro: sorry for the metraphor (ha ha), but this stepchild has been in many ways since 1976 a success.
So ridership has flatlined for two decades … this doesn’t mean that ridership is low. DC Metro has had its problems but it’s a mega useful system. The stations look drab (reflecting the architecture of their time) but certainly aren’t decrepit.
No city since Washington has been able to replicate what Washington built. Milwaukee brags about silly trolley built for tens of millions of dollars that goes nowhere at the speed of a walk. Compare that to DeeCee Metro. The DeeCee system ain’t pretty but it’s functional and it’s needed and goes to many many places including Union Station and Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The Milwaukee trolley has a fleet size of four railcars. Each train on the DeeCee Metro is what? I don’t know, maybe six or eight railcars.
Gleaming US infrastructure, in the nation’s capital! The US is a third-world country, except when it comes to weaponry and wars.