Breaking: Metro considering cessation of all Green Line service on weekends

To follow up on the recent news item related to pending service cuts to Metro, comes this distressing bit of news that I received this morning:

Included in the potential service cut alternatives is a proposal to eliminate all Green Line service on weekends. Yes, you read that correctly: the Metro Board is actually considering eliminating an entire line of service on weekends. Under the proposed plan, Yellow Line trains would continue to operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Eisenhower Ave.

According to the release distributed by WMATA, the elimination of Green Line service would substantially aid the beleaguered transit agency in closing a projected $190 million budget gap. According to incoming interim Metro GM Richard Sarles:

"At this point, these options are precisely that--options. Nothing has been decided, or will be decided, without significant input from those throughout the community. We recognize that certain proposed measures could potentially have a perceived negative impact on certain Metrorail riders, and we take those concerns very seriously. Any final decision will certainly take into account any potentially detrimental impacts to riders, and we will take every possible step to mitigate those impacts."

It goes without saying that such a move would be potentially devastating to communities up and down the Green Line. If you have not already, make sure you take advantage of the period available for public comment and express to Metro your concerns about these (and other) proposed changes.

Metro Board Threatens Yellow Line Service Cuts

Just received the following from the Mid-City Business Association. This is an important issue for our neighborhood in terms of transit access and development, and I encourage everyone to follow the link below to sign the petition.

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Save the “Yellow Line” now! Sign our petition to the WMATA board!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION OPPOSING THESE CUTS! http://www.midcitylife.com/action/#petition

Hello everyone,

I have heard from Councilmember Graham regarding the series of hearings occurring now, regarding the WMATA budget shortfall and the potential elimination of the Yellow Line extension and late night hours on weekends as ways to address the shortfall. As someone who fought hard on the Metro Board for both late night weekend hours and the Yellow Line extension, Councilmember Graham voted not to include either provision as items to be considered. However he was out voted.

WMATA has proposed numerous options to address their budget shortfalls, many of which will directly impact the DC neighborhoods that were hardest hit by original delays in constructing the system. WMATA is proposing to:

End the Yellow Line Extension from Mount Vernon – Fort Totten
End the Yellow Line entirely at 9:30 during the day and all day weekends
Close the 10th & U entrance at U Street/AACWM/Cardozo stop on weekends
Close the 8th & R entrance at Shaw/Howard U entrance on weekends
End service on weekends at midnight at all stations.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION OPPOSING THESE CUTS! http://www.midcitylife.com/action/#petition

While WMATA is holding a meeting on April 1, at All Souls Church at 16th & Harvard, these cuts are not an April fools joke, they are on the table for real, right now, and your voice is needed to make sure they don’ happen!

PUBLIC HEARING DATES AND LOCATIONS
http://www.midcitylife.com/action/index.cfm?mode=hearings
Scott Pomeroy
Save the Yellow Line Coalition

Another way to voice your opposition to th cuts is to visit FairShareMetro.com and ask the Mayor to fully fund DC's appropriation for WMATA as other local jurisdictions have.