Bacon's Rebellion

Approving Metro’s Bare-Bones Capital Budget

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James A. Bacon
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6 responses to “Approving Metro’s Bare-Bones Capital Budget”

  1. LocalGovGuy Avatar
    LocalGovGuy

    I’d make a distinction with a difference. When Metro is competently managed, I honestly don’t view Uber/Lyft/Mobility as a Service as a true threat. Now, I do agree that Mobility as a Service is a real threat to bus services.

  2. TooManyTaxes Avatar
    TooManyTaxes

    I see Metrorail as a useful part of the Greater Washington Metro Area for the foreseeable future. It is quite useful for transporting people to, from and around the District of Columbia. This is especially true so long as the federal government and related private sector businesses and associations locate offices in and near Washington. It is much less valuable for locations on spur lines, e.g., Tysons, Reston, Dulles and Ashburn.

    However, unless WMATA gets a handle on its costs and culture of any effort is good enough, Metrorail will continue to lose ridership. The rapid growth in teleworking is also diminishing the importance and use of Metrorail. But in sum, investing capital in the existing system will likely be beneficial overall.

    I agree with LGG Mobility as a Service will make most bus service obsolete except on higher density routes with short headways.

  3. TBill Avatar
    TBill

    How did Va. come up with the $15oM? I am thinking there was something about raising the floor of the NOVA gas tax.

  4. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    re: uber replacing transit – (of any kind).

    I think a bus carries 40-50 passengers.. and each METRO car carries 100 and there are 8 car trainsets?

    So how many Ubers will it take to replace a bus or a METRO car or METRO train set on NOVa’s “free-flowing” transportation road system?

    ya’ll have been drinking or smoking some powerful stuff!!! I’m totally envious!

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      Larry, Larry, Larry… I think you have been smoking something.

      Regarding the danger of Uber “replacing” Metro: You have improperly re-framed the question. The challenge I raised in my post is that Uber will drain away more passengers than it already has, thus cutting even more deeply into Metro revenue. This is not speculation. Metro acknowledges that it has lost passengers to Uber. The numbers will grow as Uber and competitors get savvier about providing their services.

    2. TooManyTaxes Avatar
      TooManyTaxes

      Larry, on your next trip north, watch some of the buses. Many, both those operated by WMATA and those operated by local governments, are nearly empty.

      On some heavily traveled routes, buses are often full especially during the AM and PM peaks. But on other routes and during other times, not many people riding. One solution is smaller buses. Another I think will be transportation as a service. I’m seeing more and more energy in this area.

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