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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will hold a public hearing on Jan. 27 to gain input on various options for closing a $40 million budget gap in the current fiscal year.

Lower-than-expected ridership and declining revenue caused the gap, according to the agency. Average weekday rail ridership is down about 2.5 percent vs. the last fiscal year’s average and more than 5 percent below the budgeted figure, while bus ridership is down about 6 percent vs. the last fiscal year and 12 percent below budget.

To address the shortfall, WMATA needs to generate additional revenue and reduce costs, agency officials said in a prepared statement. WMATA is proposing several measures, including:
• fare increases up to 10 percent for all Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess trips;
• service cuts on Metrorail, such as by opening the system one hour later on Saturdays and Sundays, and 30 minutes later on weekdays, and closing the system one hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays;
• bus service changes on several lines:
• minor adjustments to intervals between trains and buses; and
• the closure of several station entrances on weeknights and weekends where alternate entrances are available.

WMATA also is seeking public feedback on using capital dollars for preventive maintenance and parts instead of a larger fare increase and/or more service modifications or a reduction in capital projects.