Anonymous wrote:
I am not sure that you understand that the world has constraints. Since WMATA was awarded a dedicated funding stream a little over 2 years ago, they have already borrowed against it to the tune of nearly a Billion dollars for capital projects. In the meantime, during COVID the have been operating with massive losses. The only thing that has kept them solvent so far is almost $2.5 billion in total Federal bailout funds.

These details may not bother you, but they should. There is no secret money tree. Due to the dedicated local funding, there will be no longer emergency requests to DC, VA or MD to fill operating budget shortfalls. As a result, WMATA is operating empty trains under the presumption of faith that Mitch McConnell will come to their rescue later this year or next.

The obvious reason to run fewer trains now when it’s not needed is so that they don’t have to cut service when it is needed. But they are an irresponsible agency and don’t seem capable of changing their ways.

Anonymous wrote:With all the bike lanes that have been created that allows people to cycle more safely, I’m surprised people are electing to spend $36 on Uber than ride a bike.

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Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

The post-mortem on Metro’s finances included irresponsible behavior by local governments demanding capital expansion and service, which stretched an incompetent agency that led to failures to attend to basic O&M. The local governments are back to form once again, encouraging WMATA to expand service. It’s WMATA’s job to stand up to that and provide a reasonable plan that has realistic considerations for financial sustainability.

Would that new plan of realistic considerations include canceling the Purple Line and the undeveloped parts of Silver Line? Because as far as I know those are still under construction with a projected cost of over $5 billion each.

Seems like 'irresponsible behavior' to construct stations no one is using, yes?

The Purple Line is not a part of WMATA.

CAPEX for the Silver Line is funded by VA, but not O&M (this is the issue). The problem is that it is currently under construction so there would be no point stopping now and leaving a stranded asset.

In other words - don't touch assets that you like which are costing billions even though you think no one will use them, but also WMATA should be mothballed...

Some people have incredibly active imaginations.

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Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

The post-mortem on Metro’s finances included irresponsible behavior by local governments demanding capital expansion and service, which stretched an incompetent agency that led to failures to attend to basic O&M. The local governments are back to form once again, encouraging WMATA to expand service. It’s WMATA’s job to stand up to that and provide a reasonable plan that has realistic considerations for financial sustainability.

Would that new plan of realistic considerations include canceling the Purple Line and the undeveloped parts of Silver Line? Because as far as I know those are still under construction with a projected cost of over $5 billion each.

Seems like 'irresponsible behavior' to construct stations no one is using, yes?

The Purple Line is not a part of WMATA.

CAPEX for the Silver Line is funded by VA, but not O&M (this is the issue). The problem is that it is currently under construction so there would be no point stopping now and leaving a stranded asset.

In other words - don't touch assets that you like which are costing billions even though you think no one will use them, but also WMATA should be mothballed...

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

The post-mortem on Metro’s finances included irresponsible behavior by local governments demanding capital expansion and service, which stretched an incompetent agency that led to failures to attend to basic O&M. The local governments are back to form once again, encouraging WMATA to expand service. It’s WMATA’s job to stand up to that and provide a reasonable plan that has realistic considerations for financial sustainability.

Would that new plan of realistic considerations include canceling the Purple Line and the undeveloped parts of Silver Line? Because as far as I know those are still under construction with a projected cost of over $5 billion each.

Seems like 'irresponsible behavior' to construct stations no one is using, yes?

The Purple Line is not a part of WMATA.

CAPEX for the Silver Line is funded by VA, but not O&M (this is the issue). The problem is that it is currently under construction so there would be no point stopping now and leaving a stranded asset.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

The post-mortem on Metro’s finances included irresponsible behavior by local governments demanding capital expansion and service, which stretched an incompetent agency that led to failures to attend to basic O&M. The local governments are back to form once again, encouraging WMATA to expand service. It’s WMATA’s job to stand up to that and provide a reasonable plan that has realistic considerations for financial sustainability.

Would that new plan of realistic considerations include canceling the Purple Line and the undeveloped parts of Silver Line? Because as far as I know those are still under construction with a projected cost of over $5 billion each.

Seems like 'irresponsible behavior' to construct stations no one is using, yes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

The post-mortem on Metro’s finances included irresponsible behavior by local governments demanding capital expansion and service, which stretched an incompetent agency that led to failures to attend to basic O&M. The local governments are back to form once again, encouraging WMATA to expand service. It’s WMATA’s job to stand up to that and provide a reasonable plan that has realistic considerations for financial sustainability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Chicken or egg scenario. The metro is a public commodity and needs to be there to provide a service in order for businesses to be able to tell their employees 'see transit is back, we're back with full hours, you can come in'.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

Yes. By providing transit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.

Who said that? You’re imagination?

Operating empty trains is a waste of resources, full stop. When demand increases, they should then add more trains to the schedule.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biden’s stimulus have WMATA over $700 million to close their budget gap from covid. Instead of trying to develop a short term plan to sustainably manage their finances, WMATA has instead decided to recklessly run up the credit card again with wasteful services at a time when transit use is at all time lows. It’s appalling.

WMATA is a transit agency. Its purpose is to provide transit. That's what it's there for. Even if you, yourself, personally, don't want to use use transit.

It also has a fiduciary duty to use taxpayer funds in a responsible manner, and not to generate intentional and continuous significant budget shortfalls. There is no second stimulus coming. They would be better served to save their money and provide service when the demand for those services returns.

The demand is already returning. Restaurants, hotels, and convention centers have re-opened. People need a cheap, fast and convenient way to get to work.

As office buildings re-open in August and September - those riders too will return.

We're not shutting the metro down because you decided you don't want it anymore.