35 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, 6/14:
 

A regional tax for Metro? Goal is to make pitch in Richmond, Annapolis in 2018

 

Top local government and business groups said Monday that they will press the Virginia and Maryland legislatures in early 2018 to approve a regional tax or other funding mechanism for Metro to help pay the steep costs of renovating the long-neglected system.

 

SNIP

 

Metro is the only major U.S. transit system that does not receive a substantial amount of revenue from a reliable funding stream,  .  .  .

 

More here.

 

This issue has been "bubbling" for more than 10 years.  See "WMATA: New Push to Win Dedicated Metro Funding" posted in January 2006!

 

[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, 10/12:
 

Region’s leaders split over 1-cent regional sales tax to pay for Metro

 

 

A new, 1-cent regionwide sales tax would cover Metro’s long-term funding needs, according to a private presentation Wednesday to the Washington region’s top three elected officials.

 

But the three split sharply over whether such a levy is a good idea.

 

SNIP

 

Multiple studies in Metro’s 40-year history have pointed to the lack of dedicated funding as a primary reason for the underinvestment that has contributed to its safety lapses and chronic unreliability.

 

A main obstacle has been political opposition to tax increases — especially in Virginia, historically, and now in Maryland, as well. Another barrier has been the difficulty of getting the three jurisdictions to agree on a common approach.

 

“We need to come up once and for all with a way to pay for [Metro],” Bowser said. “Let’s do it next year.”

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 8/13:
 

Region’s leaders discuss possible sales tax to fund Metro

 

WASHINGTON — The region’s top elected leaders gathered privately Wednesday and talked about the possibility of a sales tax that would be used as a dedicated funding source for the Metro system.

 

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan discussed the issue behind closed doors after touching on the topic publicly during a forum at the Washington Hilton hotel.

 

SNIP

 

In the private meeting, the three leaders heard a presentation from District Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt, who said a 1-cent regional sales tax could pay for Metro’s long-term funding needs, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

 

The tax would raise about $500 million annually, the Post reported.

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 3/24:
 

Metro Board chair to Md, Va: After fare hikes, service cuts, this is time to act

 

 

WASHINGTON — Metro’s move to raise fares and cut service starting this summer could just be the start, given significant maintenance and construction needs that are projected to jump as soon as next year.

 

“There are no other places to go to get funding other than the jurisdictions,” Metro Board Chair and D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans said. “There’s going to be an enormous need for Metro.”

 

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[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, 3/25:
 

As Metro mulls financial woes, Maryland residents lean toward region-wide sales tax

 

 

Marylanders narrowly support a region-wide sales tax to boost Metro funding, giving it the most support among several proposals to bolster the struggling transit agency, a new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll finds.

 

The survey of Maryland residents offers a picture of local taxpayers’ preferences as leaders from the District, Maryland and Virginia ramp up their efforts to find consensus on a dedicated funding source for Metro — a move officials say is necessary to keep the transit agency financially solvent in coming years.

 

But there are mixed opinions on what that revenue source should be, as officials weigh the benefits and drawbacks of an increase in subsidies that the jurisdictions contribute to the agency, the launch of a Metro-dedicated sales tax, special tax districts near Metro stations or another method of funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to the transit agency.

 

For residents in Washington’s Maryland suburbs, where appraisals of Metro have plummeted, a regional sales tax draws lukewarm support.

 

But it’s more popular than other options.

 

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[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post, 4/1/17:

 

Bowser has a point: Va. and Md. governors have shown little leadership on Metro

 

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) took a rare public swipe at the governors of Virginia and Maryland last week. She faulted them for studying Metro for the umpteenth time rather than finding it the money that everyone knows it needs.

 

Bowser’s frustration is justified — but her decision to voice it may do more harm than good.

 

In her annual State of the District speech on Thursday, Bowser needled Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® for backing the creation of a new panel to conduct yet another in-depth investigation of the transit system’s problems.

 

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[CNJRoss]

​The Washington Post,​ 6/24/17

District residents’ perceptions of Metro have fallen dramatically; many support a sales tax to turn it around

 

 

 

Washingtonians have soured on Metro, with chronic delays and shutdowns changing how more than 2 in 5 of them get around town, but they’re are not giving up on the beleaguered subway.

 

A slight majority supports a regionwide sales tax to boost funding for the transit system, with big majorities opposing service cuts and fare increases to raise the money it needs, according to a new Washington Post poll.

 

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[CNJRoss]

The Washington Post,​ 8/11/17:

McAuliffe, Hogan and Bowser to meet Aug. 28 to try to narrow differences over Metro

 

 

 

The District’s mayor and the governors of Virginia and Maryland will meet Aug. 28 to discuss Metro amid hopes that they will start to narrow the wide gap that separates them over how to fund the transit system.

 

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® and District Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) will hold their first regional summit on Metro in 10 months and may discuss other issues as well, officials said.

 

The meeting, to take place at Mount Vernon, comes at a critical time for the transit system. The region is struggling to agree on how to handle Metro’s request to raise at least $500 million a year in additional revenue that the agency says it needs for new equipment and maintenance to restore the system to a state of good repair.

 

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[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 8/13:

 

Plan to fix Metro soon to be public

 

WASHINGTON — Possible solutions to Metro’s long-standing funding and governance problems could soon be made public.

 

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe earlier this year hired former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to come up with a comprehensive plan that political leaders in the region could get behind.

 

“I think we’ll get it resolved,” McAuliffe said.

 

SNIP

 

Metro is funded by Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and the federal government but does not have a dedicated funding source. It is the only subway system in the nation without a dedicated and consistent funding plan.

 

McAuliffe expressed support for a dedicated funding source, but admitted past proposals which would have Virginia pick up the lion’s share of the costs even though a greater percentage of riders coming from D.C. and Maryland weren’t equitable and would need to be addressed. It’s possible LaHood has figured out how to do that.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

WTOP radio, 9/14/17:
 

Metro GM gives dire warning; regional leaders promise push for 10-year fix

 

 

WASHINGTON — Regional leaders vowed Wednesday to keep pushing for new dedicated tax revenue for Metro in the face of dire new fiscal threats outlined by the general manager, even as the likelihood of a long-term deal getting approval this winter dims.

 

In a presentation set to be given to the Metro Board Thursday, General Manager Paul Wiedefeld will repeat his warning that $500 million per year in new, dedicated capital funding is needed by next fall to avoid significant cuts or other problems. That’s in addition to any funding increases needed for operations.

 

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