Stay-home orders, and progress on software safety concerns, could help speed up work on the Silver Line extension to Dulles International Airport, since Metro now appears to be open to a complete multiweek shutdown of the Wiehle-Reston East station.

Metro, which will run the extension, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is responsible for building it, now have documentation in hand and plan to have joint meetings next week to resolve any remaining issues so that testing can move forward, Airports Authority Vice President Charles Stark said Wednesday.

鈥淭he best part of that situation is that due to the extreme lack of ridership at Wiehle Ave., the ridership is down to approximately 350 people a day. WMATA is favorably looking at doing a complete shutdown for two to three weeks instead of 15 to 16 weekend shutdowns. This will really increase the efficiency of the testing and get it done much earlier in the project,鈥� Stark said.

Under the latest schedules before this potential agreement, the several month process of testing the connections between the new stations and the existing ones would have pushed substantial completion of the new line into March 2021, the contractor building the line had said.

Now, the substantial completion date could come much sooner.

Metro has approved fixes to one crossover where trains switch from one track to another, and all other similar locations on the main tracks will now get fixes to remove nonstandard equipment.

The Horsepen Run crossover was approved, even with a few areas slightly outside official construction standards by about 1/16 of an inch.

In the rail yard, there are problems with the car maintenance lifts being out of sync, and work continues to fix rail alignment issues in shops and to address track problems. Problems also remain with surge arresters and insulated joints. Rail cars arrived in the yard for the first time on March 23.

Still, an initial test of automated information management systems failed April 2. Changes have been made, and another attempt to control systems from Metro鈥檚 Rail Operations Control Center is planned April 23.

The contractor building the rail yard projects it will be substantially finished this fall.

Though Metro appears open to letting the Airports Authority and its contractors speed up work during the low ridership and service levels of the COVID-19 pandemic, Metro itself has been more cautious about expanding track work elsewhere in the system due to concerns about worker safety and availability.

The Airports Authority is now requiring face coverings for all workers and contractors on its projects.

There have been a handful of people who had to quarantine or isolate due to potential exposures, and Stark said one Metro employee working on Silver Line issues tested positive.

鈥淏ut, basically, we are continuing almost unimpeded,鈥� Stark said.

The Airports Authority is also taking advantage of reduced air travel at Reagan National Airport to accelerate major construction projects there.

Significantly more work on new security checkpoints and the new concourse that will replace Gate 35X is being done during the day and, in some cases, work is being done on more days of the week.

The outer roadway on the baggage claim level for Terminal B/C is now closed around the clock, with all traffic directed through two lanes normally reserved only for taxicabs.

Changes such as those are allowing steel erection for the security checkpoints to move more quickly, which the Airports Authority believes will at least partly make up for earlier schedule delays.

Officially, completion is forecast now for late 2021, but that is likely to advance to mid-2021 or earlier.

If the security checkpoints can open by July 2021, they could open at the same time as the new concourse.

The accelerated steel erection for the security checkpoints could also mean that the roads outside Terminal B/C fully reopen to drivers sooner than the currently projected date this August.

Source

President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday it wants to extend its suspension of all census field operations until at least June 1 as a coronavirus protection measure. It also wants to delay completing the count until Oct. 31 and delay the final state-level results needed for redistricting by at least four months to July 31, 2021.

There could be even more delays if federal, state and local public health directives continue.
鈥淭he Oversight Committee will carefully examine the administration鈥檚 request, but we need more information that the administration has been unwilling to provide,鈥� Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat, said in a statement.

The delay would make it nearly impossible for Virginia to hold its fall 2021 House of Delegates elections as expected using new lines, because drawing the maps is a complicated process that includes several stages and must be done well before Election Day.

It鈥檚 a rush even in normal years to get local, state and congressional lines in place, voting precincts reset and ballots issued on time.

Lines must be in place in time to hold primaries and to print and send absentee ballots well ahead of the primaries and general elections to military and overseas voters, among others.

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If this census result delay does happen, it means the 2021 elections in Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana and New Jersey could be held under existing lines, and new maps would have to be drawn later.

Places like Maryland and D.C. are less impacted by a delay, because they do not hold any of their most significant elections in odd-numbered years.

The delay could also, at least theoretically, open the door for more significant changes to a proposed amendment to Virginia鈥檚 constitution going to voters this fall.

Constitutional amendments must pass the General Assembly twice 鈥� with a House election in between 鈥� before they can go to voters for a final up or down vote.

Significant further delays to the census results could mean there is time to put a different version to voters, since it is unclear when the redistricting data would actually be delivered.

The current plan on the ballot in November would provide for a bipartisan redistricting commission essentially giving Democrats and Republicans equal power. It was the only version of a redistricting amendment that the legislature could pass in a Republican-led House in 2019.

This year, many black lawmakers and, late in the session, a number of others emphasized their significant concerns about the proposal鈥檚 lack of guaranteed representation for minority groups, the lack of a truly independent panel and new powers given to the Supreme Court of Virginia to draw lines if there鈥檚 a dispute.

Still, majorities in each chamber approved sending the measure to voters.

If the amendment is approved, it gives the new commission 45 days from the time the state receives census data to submit House of Delegates District lines and 60 days for Congressional lines. In a normal year, the commission would get more time, with a July 1 deadline.

The General Assembly would then get 15 days to vote on the plan. If it is rejected, the commission could submit a second plan two weeks later.

If the second plan is not adopted within a week, then the Supreme Court of Virginia would draw the lines on its own.

If the commission never submits a plan, then the Supreme Court of Virginia would also draw the lines on its own.

Source

Gov. Ralph Northam released specific amendments Monday, which included a provision to allow tuition assistance grants to continue for students at schools that require online classes, rather than in-person classes, this fall if needed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At next week’s reconvened session of the General Assembly, the new budget would cut proposed increases in financial aid funding for George Mason University, James Madison University and other colleges, as well as聽cuts to new funding for the University of Mary Washington鈥檚 Fredericksburg Pipeline Initiative.

And a program that would have provided for free community college for some students would lose $71 million in funding.

Northam is proposing to remove about $80 million, which was intended to specifically limit college tuition increases as part of a wide-ranging spending freeze, and would allow colleges to reduce their recovery rates for indirect costs this school year, given the loss of dorm, parking and dining revenue.

The frozen state funds would only be restored if there is a significant economic turnaround, or money is otherwise found in the two-year budget, which is not expected at this point.

Northam also asked for the authority to withhold more than 15% of allocated funds if the budget falls even shorter than already projected, and for permission for the Virginia Lottery to reduce some payouts to schools if lottery revenues fall short of expectations.

Raises for teachers and other state or state-supported workers were already contingent on budget forecasts, so Northam is not recommending any changes. But the raises approved by the General Assembly in March may not happen.

When the full economic picture becomes clearer, a new revenue forecast will be made, and it could lead to additional budget changes.

Northam also proposed significant short-term borrowing authority of up to $500 million for the state and $250 million for localities, which could cover any cash flow issues.

Under other budget amendments, the state would not adopt a new six-year transportation plan until after the budget re-forecast, since even with a new transportation funding bill passed this year, there could be significant decreases in funding available from sources such as sales tax.

The current six-year plan approved last year would remain as a placeholder, and it could be in place for as much as an extra year.

However, the Commonwealth Transportation Board would get new authority to move money around to 鈥渕aintain and continue core operations and services threatened by revenue reductions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Northam proposed funding and language to address concerns about the impact of Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel construction on threatened birds as well.

In addition, the budget amendments would eliminate things such as new adult dental coverage under Medicaid, and some mental health and disability programs.

Among other health-related amendments, the new amended budget would allow state funding for nonhormonal long-acting reversible contraceptives, in addition to hormonal versions.

The amended budget would also put off any spending to add more developmental disability waiver slots, eliminate a new provision for overtime for personal care attendants, and eliminate additional funding to expand behavioral health services.

The governor also proposed waivers from licensing and inspection requirements for child care programs for children of essential workers that operate during the pandemic.

Northam asked lawmakers to waive interest on state tax payments made by June 1, a month after the May 1 filing deadline.

And, he wants the Department of Corrections to be able to release prisoners with less than one year to their release date or put them on probation or house arrest (as long as they were not convicted of a Class 1 felony or sexually violent felony, and the release will help with health, safety and welfare).

In spending changes, prisons would not get new funding for electronic health records or to expand the use of university health care systems to treat prisoners.

Another change would allow all public bodies to hold regular meetings fully online during the COVID-19 health emergency to address issues beyond emergency measures.

Northam asked to delay a report on collective bargaining for state workers from this November to next November, and there are a number of smaller cuts for things, such as parks in Fairfax County or Alexandria cultural initiatives.

Source

A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board committee is due to sign off Wednesday on plans to move forward with the contracting process both for 16 mobile lounges, which ferry people between terminals, and for 30 of the 鈥減lane-mates鈥� that take passengers directly to and from planes parked out on the tarmac.

Companies will be allowed to suggest either rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing vehicles 鈥� some of which are nearly 50 years old 鈥� or they can offer to provide new vehicles.

The Airports Authority hopes the 30 plane-mates and 16 mobile lounges that will be in place within five years will be more modern and more efficient.

The current diesel engines in the vehicles are about 15 years old, frequently break down, and create difficulties finding spare components and parts.

Under the proposal, the authority would prioritize fully electric vehicles with charging stations. Diesel-electric hybrids would be the secondary option, and regular diesel engines would be the third choice.

All of that is dependent on price, but electric vehicles would qualify for special Federal Aviation Administration grants that could cover 75% of the estimated $115 million cost. The authority also hopes electric vehicles would be cheaper to operate given no diesel costs and projected lower maintenance costs.

The $115 million cost estimate includes design and fabrication work to replace the engines, major components and systems, and to install an electric charging infrastructure.

Dominion Energy is already separately working on a solar farm on airport property.

The alternative to the mobile lounges 鈥� extending the underground Aero Train to Concourse D 鈥� 鈥渨as considered too expensive and unattainable in a few years,鈥� board briefing documents said.

The authority has already met with vehicle manufacturers as part of the contracting process.

The next stages will include using experience, work plans and safety records to identify the top three teams that express interest in the project. They will then get 45 days to submit more detailed proposals, which will be ranked based on technical and pricing criteria.

鈥淲hile the opening of the Aero Train reduced demand for Mobile Lounges, demand for Plane-Mates servicing the International Arrivals Building remains high,鈥� the documents said.

There are currently 19 mobile lounges and 30 plane-mates in the fleet, with 14 mobile lounges and 26 plane-mates in service, the documents said.

The vehicles use about 260,000 gallons of diesel each year, and cost another $2.5 million or so each year to maintain.

The 120-passenger, 18-foot high mobile lounges were custom-built for the airport starting in 1962, and have had periodic upgrades since. Fully loaded, the vehicle is about 100,000 pounds, and has a top speed of 25 mph.

Plane-mates were built between 1971 and 1981. They are 24 feet high, hold 150 passengers, and weigh about 92,500 pounds fully loaded. They also have a top speed of 25 mph.

Both the mobile lounges and plane-mates last had engine replacements around 2005, and last had a larger overhaul 25 years ago.

鈥淢ost vehicle parts and components are no longer produced, requiring costly customized manufacturing to maintain. A major rehabilitation or replacement of the fleet is critical to continued safe, reliable and environmentally sustainable operations,鈥� the documents said.

Source

Northam鈥檚 deadline to act over the weekend also revealed the major coronavirus-related budget changes he is suggesting as placeholders until the true economic impact of COVID-19 becomes clear.

He also signed groundbreaking protections against discrimination for the LGBTQ community and pregnant women, bills repealing Jim Crow-era laws and the Lee-Jackson Day honoring Confederate Generals, and a bill giving localities control over Confederate monuments in their jurisdictions.

Northam plans to sign a bill decriminalizing simple marijuana possession after the legislature considers amendments.

A new cap on insulin copays of $50 a month will also become law Jan. 1, and undocumented immigrants who live in Virginia will now be able to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.

Northam has proposed delaying a minimum wage increase from $7.25 to $9.50 to take effect in May of next year rather than January, and is proposing a delay until May 2021 for a bill that allows school boards or local governments to opt-in to collective bargaining for their workers.

Other bills set to become law include environmental measures, criminal justice changes like raising the felony larceny threshold, raising the age that some crimes are automatically charged in adult court, significantly limiting civil asset forfeiture if people ask for their stuff back after they are cleared by a court, and permanently ending driver鈥檚 license suspensions for unpaid fines or fees.

Northam also signed bills in recent days repealing Virginia鈥檚 mandatory ultrasound law and other abortion restrictions and adding new gun regulations requiring universal background checks for all sales, establishing a red flag law, restoring Virginia鈥檚 one handgun per month purchase law and requiring the reporting of lost or stolen guns to police.

Northam is proposing speeding up some new payday loan regulations to implement them sooner than lawmakers had proposed, and wants to make a parole expansion effective immediately to cover people sentenced when juries did not know parole had been ended.

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Budget

For the current budget year ending Jun. 30, Northam is proposing 37 amendments, an unusually high number.

“COVID-19 makes this year different,” Northam said in a message to lawmakers.
The changes include an additional $55.5 million for the Department of Emergency Management, $2.5 million for Housing and Community Development, and $50 million to be made available for other responses including to match federal funds.

Northam also wants to keep $601 million available for the two-year budget starting July 1 rather than the original plan of putting that extra cash into the state鈥檚 rainy day fund on top of already required contributions.

Other proposals include more spending flexibility and fewer restrictions on donations, grants and service changes for public colleges and state agencies.

Lawmakers could also approve the use of federal funds for child care, higher pay for nursing homes, waiving interest on state income tax payments that are submitted after May 1, and the expansion of virtual public meetings for government bodies.

In the two-year budget starting July 1, Northam has been forced to propose 144 changes to a budget that he largely liked when it passed in March.

“New circumstances now require us to revisit those decisions,” Northam said in a message transmitted with his proposed amendments.

Rather than cutting programs completely now, though, Northam has 83 amendments to 鈥渦nallot,鈥� or freeze, new spending until the state can develop new long-term revenue projections “once the economic fog has lifted.”

The amendments would freeze $874.6 million in the first year and $1.4 billion in the second year of the budget for now.

Northam also proposes using bonds to cover certain capital projects to free up $65 million, and would again delay funding to hire more school counselors which would save both state and localities money.

“While these proposals present difficult decisions today, we may face tougher choices tomorrow. The right course is to be prepared,” Northam said.

Transportation

Gas tax and other fee changes to fund transportation remain largely unchanged under amendments offered by the governor, except for a change that would lower the diesel tax from 21.2 cents per gallon to 20.2 cents from this July to July 1, 2021.

Northam is proposing delaying certain Northern Virginia tax increases in the transportation funding bill to May 1, 2021 for hotel taxes and real estate transfer fee changes.

Other amendments would also speed a reduction in recordation tax payouts to cities and counties outside of Northern Virginia.

Under other transportation bills, Gov. Northam had already signed a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving, which will take effect Jan. 1.

He is proposing a minor technical amendment to the bill allowing regular speed cameras in Virginia for the first time, so that bill allowing both state and local law enforcement to place the speed cameras in school zones and highway work zones is likely to become law.

As part of amendments to the marijuana decriminalization bill, Northam is asking the legislature to make the new civil penalty for pot possession reportable to the Department of Motor Vehicles if it happens while someone is driving, even though the summons would not be a part of a person鈥檚 criminal record.

Northam is also proposing amendments to the bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to get driver privilege cards (and car insurance), that would make the cards look similar to other limited duration licenses.

He has proposed amendments to somewhat broaden a vulnerable road user protection bill that would cover passengers, not just operators, of covered devices ranging from bikes to horses and buggies. The changes would also explicitly cover any person riding an animal.
On sidewalks, Northam is proposing that personal delivery robots be allowed to “not unreasonably interfere with pedestrians,” rather than being required to yield.

New statewide rules for peer-to-peer vehicle rentals could also be delayed until October.

Gambling

Virginia remains on track to get its first full-fledged casinos and sports betting, but Northam offered several amendments to the bills that will pave the way.

While most of the amendments appear to be technical fixes, Northam is offering a significant change that would designate the state鈥檚 share of tax revenue toward “public school construction, renovations, or upgrades” rather than toward the state鈥檚 general fund.

Northam also would further spell out a voluntary exclusion program by specifying that people can put themselves on the list for two years, five years or permanently with only limited ways to get off the list during that time period.

On sports betting, Northam鈥檚 changes would adjust the application fee structure, clarify the priority for NASCAR facilities, and allow betting on youth or college sports or tournaments where no Virginia team is participating.

Northam is also proposing allowing 鈥渟kill games鈥� for one year. The machines that are essentially slot machines have operated in a gray area of the law, and the General Assembly had voted to ban them. Northam believes allowing and taxing all machines in place today in bars and truck stops could help keep those businesses afloat and provide around $150 million for a state COVID relief fund.

Under Northam鈥檚 amendment, the skill games would become illegal July 1, 2021 without further action by the General Assembly.

Northam has also signed a bill to let charitable organizations run Texas Hold ‘Em poker events.

Elections

Northam has signed bills allowing early voting without a reason needed, establishing automatic voter registration (opt out rather than opt in) at the Department of Motor Vehicles, repealing Virginia鈥檚 voter ID law, and allowing absentee ballots that arrive in the days after polls close to be counted.

He also signed bills making Election Day a holiday and eliminating Lee-Jackson Day on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, paving the way for same-day voter registration in future years, and allowing voters to sign up to permanently have absentee ballots sent to their home for every election they are eligible for.

He is asking the General Assembly to move the May 5 town elections, which are already underway, back to November due to the coronavirus.

If the elections are moved, the November elections would be a fresh slate with the potential for additional candidates. All ballots already cast for May鈥檚 election would be thrown out.

Northam is also offering an amendment that would block the state from moving its June primary in future years. While Northam has moved this year鈥檚 Congressional primary back two weeks due to the virus, his amendment would effectively kill a bill that aims to permanently move the June primaries from the second Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June.

Supporters of the bill say that would avoid conflicts with students and staff in elementary, middle and high schools that are used as polling places.

With redistricting coming up next year, Northam is recommending a clarification to the bill laying out the criteria to be used for the maps.

The amendment would specifically give the Board of Corrections the authority to require local and regional jails to provide information needed so that Virginians being held behind bars can be counted at their home addresses rather than at the prison as has been done in the past.

Animal bills, and Northam鈥檚 lone veto

The only bill Northam vetoed this year, of more than 1,200 that passed, was about milk.

The bill would have prevented something like almond milk or soy milk from being marketed as milk as long as a number of other states approved the same law by 2029.

It would have defined milk as something coming from a hoofed mammal including cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, yaks, deer, reindeer, moose, horses and donkeys.

Northam did sign several other animal-related bills including tweaks to the state鈥檚 animal tethering law setting out longer tether requirements in some cases, unless approved by local animal control officers, and another bill banning the transport of bait fish like river herring, alewife, threadfin shad, or gizzard shad collected from the inland waters for sale out of state.

Source

Stay-home orders and social distancing measures appear to be working to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in Virginia, but models like one from the University of Virginia show significant COVID-19 concerns are likely to stretch at least into the fall.

If restrictions are totally lifted when Gov. Ralph Northam鈥檚 current executive order expires on June 10, the UVA model projects a surge in coronavirus cases this summer, with Northern Virginia hospitals the first in the state likely to be overwhelmed beyond capacity starting sometime between July and September.

Researchers and state officials aim to prevent that surge from taking place using other measures or extending some current protections, but the Virginia-specific model underlines the long-term nature of the coronavirus concerns.

In a briefing on the models Monday afternoon organized by the Northam administration, experts highlighted the need to ensure enough hospital beds, protective gear and medical staff, since preparing one extra bed may cost a few thousand dollars but preparing too few would cost lives.

There are a variety of models that are being factored into planning, each of which is continually updated based on new research, assumptions, testing results and deaths.

The UVA model assumes that only 15% of cases were actually detected at the start of the outbreak in the winter, and that each infected person at the start infected two to three other people on average.

It projects Virginia as a whole has enough medical resources for a few months under current stay-home directives, but that lifting social distancing restrictions too soon would quickly lead to a major spike in infections that would change that.

Under current stay-at-home orders, UVA researchers believe each infected person is now only passing the novel coronavirus on to about 1.1 other people, which has helped hold the number of confirmed new cases steady over the last few weeks.

The researchers believe people will adapt to the new risks and continue to limit trips out when things do slowly reopen, which could continue to help limit the spread of the virus and other similar illnesses.

The state and the nation could have to implement other major changes to help limit the spread, said Virginia Health Secretary Dan Carey.

鈥淲e definitely need to have additional strategies, and whether that turns out to be complex testing of who is allowed to do what based on antibody tests, by thermography, meaning temperature measurement going into workplaces 鈥�. and how to do that in a complex open society like the U.S. and Virginia in a nuanced and responsible way, we鈥檝e got to develop that,鈥� Carey said.

Virginia will also have to consider what would trigger reinstituting stay-at-home orders or other social distancing rules when another round of infections comes, Carey said.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have this all figured out,鈥� Carey said, but the state is looking at what the options are to get businesses reopened and keep people safe.

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Source

Metro will shut down rail service at 9 p.m. each night, effective Monday, and will further cut back bus service. The 19 stations Metro closed earlier remain closed indefinitely.

The final bus trips will depart at or before 11 p.m. each night, and buses will run a modified Sunday schedule weekdays. On weekends, only 27 bus routes will run on reduced schedules.

The new rail service hours Monday through Friday will be 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. until further notice, with trains every 15 minutes on the Red Line, and every 20 minutes on all other lines.

On Saturday and Sunday, the rail system will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with trains every 20 minutes on the Red Line and every 30 minutes on all other lines.

Metro cites low ridership numbers after 9 p.m. and the opportunity to cut back on the time workers must spend on the job as reasons for the latest service change.

Trains continue to pass through 19 stations without stopping.

MetroAccess subscription trips are canceled until further notice, but you can schedule individual paratransit trips.

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Source

Two new Metro entrances, expanded bus service and even a bus-only lane in Rosslyn are among Northern Virginia projects that could be funded by Interstate 66 tolls, if drivers eventually hit the roads again.

New rankings of applications from local and regional agencies that requested $32.9 million in I-66 toll revenue outline the projects likely to get funded and those that would miss out, if the expected $25 million is available in the coming two-year cycle.

“Please note that, at the time of this publication, it is unknown whether the COVID-19 public health emergency will have an impact on the availability of toll revenue funding available to this program,鈥� Northern Virginia Transportation Commission documents said.

Toll prices for solo drivers and revenue on I-66 inside the Capital Beltway are down significantly as many people stay home, just like usage has dropped dramatically in the 95, 395 and 495 Express Lanes.

VRE ridership was down almost 94% by March 23. Metrorail ridership is down around 95%, and Metrobus ridership is down about 75%.

Still, the submitted projects that would make the cut for I-66 toll funding based on the number of people they would move, travel time savings, cost effectiveness, local priorities and inter-jurisdictional connections are:

• A west entrance to Ballston Metro ($10 million requested)
• A north entrance to the McLean Metro ($1 million requested)
• Renew PRTC OmniRide bus service from Gainesville to Pentagon/Navy Yard ($461,100)
• Restore rush hour Route 28X Metrobus Tysons Corner-Mark Center ($3.3 million)
• Renew Metro Connection Route 88X Loudoun County Dulles South extension ($649,819)
• Renew PRTC OmniRide service from Haymarket to Rosslyn ($137,100)
• New PRTC OmniRide service from Gainesville to NoMa ($3.89 million)
• Renew Loudoun County Purcellville Metro Connection bus service ($1.4 million)
• PRTC OmniRide transportation demand management promotion and offer of I-66 corridor vanpool parking benefit ($85,000).

Those projects total about $21 million in requested funding.

Projects on the edge that could be funded are:

• Fairfax County new bus service from Reston South to Crystal City ($5.1 million)
• City of Fairfax Bikeshare implementation ($460,000)
• Arlington County Lee Highway HOV and bus-only lane in Rosslyn ($710,000)

The two projects that were scored under the cost-benefit analysis that appear to fall short of funding are:

• Town of Vienna Park and Ride at Patrick Henry Library ($5.5 million)
• Fairfax Connector fare discounts for service from Reston North to Crystal City ($154,500)

The scoring does not include additional costs for administering the program, and the state is also planning to put other toll money in the future toward construction of the Long Bridge project that will help expand VRE, Amtrak and freight rail service, and possibly toward future Metro improvements in Rosslyn.

Public comment on this round of projects’ funding is scheduled online and in virtual town hall meetings from April 6 to May 21.

Source

This year though, even the eight members who voted for the transit system’s budget plan have no idea if any of those items approved Thursday will actually happen when the budget year begins July 1.

The 8-0 vote instead amounts to a ceremonial budget approval that allows federal grant applications to move forward, buying the Metro Board, Metro staff and the local governments that foot the bill more time to figure out what should actually happen this summer given major coronavirus pressures in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia regions.

鈥淩ight now, it鈥檚 impossible to say what may or may not be cut or not cut,鈥� Metro Board Chairman Paul Smedberg said.

Metro would not need another round of public hearings, if major changes are limited to those discussed this winter.

鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot that has to be answered yet for us before we can even determine how we鈥檙e going to proceed,鈥� Smedberg said.

Metro is losing $2.5 million each weekday, already counting $67 million in losses due to COVID-19, General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said.

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Metro has already closed 19 rail stations indefinitely, significantly reduced train frequencies, cut rail service hours back to 11 p.m. closings each night and slashed bus service until further notice. Additional service reductions are possible.

The newly approved budget package would have extended rail service hours back to midnight on weekends, and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. It would raise rush hour rail fares between 10 and 50 cents depending on the length of your trip, and cut weekend rail fares to a flat rate of $2.

The plan includes a number of bus service cuts, although far fewer than Metro initially proposed in December and January. Some other bus lines would see improved service.

With the situation still changing, Wiedefeld says it is too early to even say one or two things that might be cut from the just-approved budget plan.

鈥淲hen we get toward June, obviously we鈥檒l have much more information, we鈥檒l all have a better sense of where we are and what the future looks like 鈥� the near future anyway 鈥� and I think we鈥檒l make our judgement then, but it would not be until June before we鈥檇 even get to that level [of detail],鈥� Wiedefeld said.

The board plans to vote in June on an actual final budget, and then may still make further changes every few months during the budget year.

Local governments are responsible for Virginia鈥檚 operating costs, while the state pays most costs for Maryland鈥檚 Montgomery and Prince George鈥檚 counties.

Jurisdictions are already concerned about whether they will have the money to cover many things in their budgets, including Metro.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be working closely with our jurisdictional partners. They too are assessing, you know, where this is going,鈥� Smedberg said.

State and local governments are in the process of their own significant overhauls to budgets that were initially proposed over the last few weeks or months.

鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of surreal even doing a budget in these sorts of times because there is pretty much unprecedented uncertainty out there on a lot of fronts,鈥� Loudoun County Supervisor and Metro Board member Matt Letourneau said.

A change in the Virginia funding breakdown Thursday actually increased projected costs for some jurisdictions, as it lowered Loudoun County鈥檚 forecast contributions based on the expected launch of Silver Line service to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn next spring.

Letourneau acknowledged that is 鈥渃ausing a lot of heartburn鈥� for other Northern Virginia governments.

How people will bounce back after all this is another big budget question.

鈥淭he world that we鈥檙e in right now is a little bit upside down, and I would also say that the world that we鈥檙e going to see afterwards has a lot of changing dynamics,鈥� Maryland Transportation Secretary and Metro Board member Greg Slater said.

For example, it is unclear how quickly things might return to normal, how many businesses will reopen, and how many people will stick with telework on a regular basis.

鈥淓ven when we鈥檙e through the peak of this, we鈥檙e going to be dealing with a very different ridership scenario, probably very different revenue projections, and so I do think the board, as has been stated, will have to recalibrate to figure out what are the things that we鈥檙e going to have to do in that situation to get riders back and also to make budget,鈥� Letourneau said.

Local governments that run their own bus systems, including Montgomery County (Ride On), are concerned about plans to double the transfer discount between buses and trains, since local bus systems have largely tried to match their fare rules to Metro鈥檚, but they say they do not have additional money available to accommodate the increase from 50 cents to $1 without resorting to service cuts.

鈥淲e simply can鈥檛 fail to take account the impact that our actions will have on our regional partners, and so we must be prepared to take a hard look at our budget initiatives in light of COVID-19 in June,鈥� Maryland Metro Board member Michael Goldman said.

The budget approval also covers capital construction, repair and purchasing projects.
Metro鈥檚 plans include more 24/7 track work, the next steps to buy a new batch of train cars, more new buses, and garage, office and IT upgrades or replacements.

For now, Metro is not speeding up any significant track work during the current cuts in service and ridership.

鈥淲e are looking at opportunities across the whole capital program, where there are opportunities to move up projects, but we are doing that from the perspective first and foremost is are we putting our employees or the contractors in any danger from a health perspective,鈥� Wiedefeld said Thursday.

Metro is wary of ramping up service or financial capacity to get previously planned projects going only to see a ban on construction implemented at the state, regional or federal level.

Longer term, Wiedefeld is hopeful that any additional rounds of stimulus funding from the federal government could include a focus on infrastructure projects, which could allow Metro to speed up or expand on current plans.

Metro has yet to actually receive the emergency federal operating assistance signed into law last week, with final conversations continuing with the Federal Transit Administration about exactly how the funding will be distributed and what if any strings will be attached.

Source

Metro does not expect to totally shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said.

“I don鈥檛 anticipate that happening,” Wiedefeld told a virtual Metro Board meeting on Thursday.
Only things such as federal or state directives, or significant staffing issues, would lead to a total service stoppage in a worst-case scenario, he said.

Any long-term closure would require a Metro Board vote, but Wiedefeld would be able to shut down the system for a temporary period in an immediate health emergency.

“I think we are playing the critical role that we need to play in the community by providing the services we are providing for those people that need to get to medical institutions, for those people that work at medical institutions, as well as just some of the things for basic life essentials like food,鈥� Wiedefeld said.

Metro has closed 19 rail stations indefinitely, cut rail service back to every 15 to 20 minutes on each line on weekdays, and has significantly cut back bus service until further notice. Cuts on weekends have been even more significant.

The agency has lost an estimated $67 million since mid-March, Wiedefeld said Thursday.

The large-scale changes and response will continue 鈥渇or the indefinite future,鈥� said Chief Safety Officer Theresa Impastato.

鈥淲e鈥檝e altered service patterns and schedules to balance providing essential service with conservation of resources, including our cleaning capabilities, the use of our equipment and our manpower,鈥� she said.

Metro is also coming up with plans to phase service back at some point down the line when public health officials eventually begin to relax social distancing guidelines.

At least nine Metro workers have confirmed positive tests for COVID-19, as well as a number of contractors.

Ridership is down significantly 鈥� by about 95% on the rails and 75% on buses 鈥� but tens of thousands of essential trips are still happening across the system each day, even with the service cuts.

The federal government is still finalizing the rules for special funding signed into law last week, so Metro has not yet received the emergency funds. The D.C. area is expected to get about $1 billion in emergency transit support.

Metro could also seek additional funding in future stimulus bills that focus on construction jobs and infrastructure projects, which could allow some projects to be done earlier than previously planned.

For now, Metro has not accelerated any current track work due to concerns about worker and contractor safety.

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Source

No traffic jams during the coronavirus pandemic stay-home orders means drivers are not seeing a reason to use Northern Virginia’s toll lanes.

Traffic in the 95 Express Lanes, 395 Express Lanes and 495 Express Lanes dropped significantly in the last two full weeks of March, according to an update to investors from Transurban, the company that runs the lanes.

Transurban warned investors Wednesday that its scheduled cash distributions could be reduced, with traffic on its toll roads around the world down significantly amid coronavirus quarantines, stay-home orders and other measures.

In its North America division, which includes both the D.C. area and Montreal, traffic was down 47% in the third week of March and 65% in the fourth week of March compared to a year earlier.

That led to a 23% overall decline in March, even after including the bump in Transurban鈥檚 recorded traffic from the launch of the 395 Express Lanes last fall. The 395 Express Lanes had helped boost traffic counts 15 to 20% in January and February.

Since the Express Lanes are parallel to the regular lanes on the Capital Beltway and Interstate 95, Transurban saw traffic decline more significantly there than on many of its other roads as drivers simply took advantage of quick trips in the regular lanes.

More specific traffic counts for January, February and March are scheduled to be released April 16. Drops are expected to be even more significant in April.

The separate I-66 rush-hour tolls for solo drivers inside the Beltway, operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation, also show significant traffic drops.

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Though specific traffic counts are not available, the posted toll at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to go all the way from the Beltway to the Potomac River was just $2. Before the coronavirus traffic dip, the price on that busiest day in the middle of the week typically peaked at or above $35 around 8:30 a.m.

The 小萝莉影视 Traffic Center has noted major declines in traffic across the region since the second week of March.

There are no plans to suspend tolls or HOV requirements in the region. Even if there were, some longer-term changes could require federal approval.

Construction continues along I-95

Transurban is continuing construction work on the 95 Express Lanes extension south toward Fredericksburg, and continues regular preventive maintenance work.

The Fredericksburg Extension remains on track to open in late 2022.

鈥淲orks are currently continuing without disruption with site clearing, earthworks and bridge construction underway,鈥� the investor presentation said.

Virginia and Maryland are continuing and even expanding road construction in some areas amid the traffic drop, with expanded lane closures to speed up work in areas from Route 7 to the Bay Bridge.

Other agencies, such as Metro, have expressed concerns about expanding work during this time of reduced travel, because it could bring more workers and contractors together to potentially spread the virus.

鈥淲e are exploring that, taking advantage of some of the closures we have and the reduced ridership, but 鈥� we鈥檙e not going to risk the health of our employees or our contractors,鈥� Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Tuesday.

Metro has 19 stations closed indefinitely and has significantly cut rail and bus service. However, it plans to approve an interim budget Thursday that could expand certain rail service starting in July.

Metro has a summerlong shutdown planned at Orange and Silver Line stops in Virginia. Vienna and Dunn Loring are scheduled to be closed, trains will single-track at West Falls Church and trains will pass through East Falls Church on a single track without stopping.

Will traffic return?

It remains unclear when the region may start to get back to something closer to normal, with an indefinite stay-home order in Maryland. Virginia鈥檚 stay-at-home order is currently expected to run to June 10, and D.C.鈥檚 stay-at-home order at least into late April.

Transurban remains hopeful that traffic will return.

鈥淥verall levels of traffic in major Chinese cities remain below normal, however traffic increases week-on-week since Feb. 10 are starting to exhibit recovery, as lockdown restrictions are lifted and industries recommence operations,鈥� the company said.

鈥淗ighway traffic has rebounded faster than public transport, suggesting that social distancing is encouraging more people to commute using their cars,鈥� Transurban noted.

The company said it has enough cash available to meet debt and capital obligations, but may put off nonessential spending.

Source

Though the first phases of the plans call for adding beds in existing hospitals or on hospital campuses, the third phase would establish new treatment facilities at the National Conference Center in Loudoun County, the Dulles Expo Center in Fairfax County, and at George Mason University in the City of Fairfax, according to a briefing Tuesday for the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

The National Conference Center could host about 1,000 beds, while the other two facilities would start with at least 500 beds.

The next tier of sites that could be used to create beds to treat non-coronavirus patients includes the Hilton Garden Inn in Neabsco Commons in Woodbridge, Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino said Tuesday afternoon.

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Other facilities in that additional tier of identified sites include the Beacon Hall graduate student dormitory at the George Mason University Science and Technology Campus in the Manassas area, and additional facilities at the main GMU campus in Fairfax.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and state emergency response officials had said they were examining sites with the Army Corps of Engineers, but had not identified specific locations.

The state has not confirmed the location selections Martino detailed.

The identified sites all have relatively close access to regular hospital buildings.

Though the facilities have been identified, they would still require significant staffing, supplies and administration efforts.

Hospitals do not have extra doctors, nurses, technicians or other staff to work these additional facilities, so state officials are still looking into other staffing options through the volunteer medical reserve corps, National Guard or other means.

Testing, personal protective equipment and ventilator supplies also remain an overall challenge nationwide.

“We would have the same challenges in the alternate care facilities,” Martino said.

The latest forecasts project a potential peak of hospitalizations in Virginia over the next two months or so.

Some hospitals across Virginia have already moved to add extra beds on their campuses or to identify other locations where beds could be added, including Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg.

Regional elected leaders issued a joint statement Tuesday reiterating the need for everyone to stay home, unless absolutely necessary, since that is the easiest way to save lives.

Source

The original budget proposed a 3-cent property tax increase, which may or may not significantly change depending on the projected impact on future years’ budgets. The original proposal also included a new 4% tax on tickets to things such as movies, theaters and concerts.

“The world has changed since that budget presentation, and so will our budget,鈥� Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said.

The revised budget proposal will project significantly less revenue with drops in sales tax collections, hotel stays, car tax collections, business taxes and other areas, and is expected to put off some or all of the new programs that were proposed, including additional school funding, police body cameras and additional funding for affordable housing.

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Hotel occupancies are down from the 70% to 80% range to the 10% to 30% range, the closure of School Age Child Care programs is cutting millions of dollars in revenues, and interest rate cuts have reduced county cash flows.

鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be pain in this budget, and it needs to be shared pain. It can鈥檛 fall all on one thing. It can鈥檛 fall all on our employees, it can鈥檛 fall all on our schools,鈥� McKay said.

Those bigger ticket line items facing cuts compared to the budget proposal introduced just over a month ago are in addition to other more immediate changes, such as a general county hiring freeze and a hold on noncritical spending.

With so much unknown, supervisors expect far more significant changes than usual even after the budget is approved, with more wide-ranging regular reviews every three months.

鈥淎ll of these challenges we鈥檙e facing are the same ones everyone else in the region is grappling with,鈥� McKay said.

Other local governments expect to address their own budget changes in coming weeks for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Prince William County is evaluating what projects can be stopped or paused, and other ways to conserve cash, with details likely in coming weeks.

The state government is expected to scale back its budget when the legislature reconvenes April 22.

Gov. Ralph Northam has another week and a half to finalize the budget amendments he will send back to lawmakers for consideration.

Virginia Senate Republicans sent a letter Tuesday, asking Northam to significantly slash spending, and to veto a number of bills they had opposed during the session that could lay out new regulations.

Supervisor Dan Storck, who represents the Mount Vernon District, sees state spending and the time and type of federal aid as key to how everyone moves forward.

鈥淎t the state level, I think we should also expect more than we have in the past. In the past, we have gotten the shaft. You can鈥檛 say it any other way,鈥� Storck said, referring to cuts to education funding a decade ago.

The state and local governments generally have to balance their budgets.

County Executive Bryan Hill promised the April 7 budget proposal would meet that guideline, as best as can be projected right now.

鈥淲e are working our rear ends off to ensure that we take care of everybody, but I鈥檓 not sure how we鈥檙e going to take care of everybody at this juncture,鈥� Hill said.

Public input on the budget is scheduled to include public hearings April 14, 15 and 16, with the hope that most or all people will take advantage of digital options.

Fairfax County will allow residents to submit video testimony, online comments with attachments, call in on the phone, or, if there is no way to do any of those, comment in person as usual.

Prince William County is also looking into ways to expand electronic public input but does not have the same systems already in place that Fairfax County does.

Fairfax Co. small business, charity assistance

Fairfax County also plans additional support for small businesses through an expanded microloan program that would be in addition to or separate from federal Small Business Administration programs, and is considering shifting funding for nonprofits to focus on the biggest issues during this crisis.

The microloan program is expected to be formally approved April 14, including final details about eligibility for county businesses with no more than 50 employees.

Some nonprofit groups providing assistance may also qualify for federal grants or other funding.

The county has seen a significant increase in calls for assistance over the last few weeks, including about 20% of calls from people who have not called the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services before.

Charities who already get county funding also are getting flexibility to shift from their original contracts, which might not work right now, such as an after-school program, to instead provide more direct help to those facing COVID-19 challenges.

鈥淲e clearly are at the front of this wave, and it鈥檚 going to get bigger, not smaller, but I don鈥檛 believe that we鈥檙e ready. I don鈥檛 feel that we鈥檙e ready, and at least from my perspective and what I hear in the community, we鈥檙e not ready,鈥� Storck said.

County to keep buses running

Fairfax County supervisors formally accepted $1.85 million in emergency state funding Tuesday for transit operations to keep Fairfax Connector running. The local bus system was seeing about 40% of typical ridership last week.

The state funding is being distributed based on size to all local transit systems in Virginia other than Metro, and Fairfax County expects to be able to use its share to bridge a potential operating funding gap from lost fares until late May.

Fairfax County and other jurisdictions are also in talks with Metro about potential reductions in contributions to the regional transit system due to the major service cuts now in place indefinitely, but no final agreements have been reached.

Metro has cut rail and bus service frequency until further notice, and has closed 19 rail stations indefinitely.

Source

The final proposed budget for the year starting July 1 is due to be approved by the Metro Board in a virtual meeting Thursday. The board expects to take another look at all of the changes by June, though, which could lead to significant changes depending on COVID-19 ridership and revenue impacts.

鈥淭he Board may need to consider the timing for the implementation of certain initiatives, including but not limited to, the Weekend Flat Fare and the increase to $1 of the Metrorail-Metrobus transfer fee discount,鈥� said the resolution, due to be approved this week.

Still, a budget must be approved, both to allow for federal grant applications and to lay out a marker as local governments sort out their own budget challenges.

Under the plan, Metro would raise rush-hour rail fares, restore some late-night rail service, add some weekend and limited-stop bus service, and cut service on a number of other bus routes.

The budget also projects an April 1, 2021, launch date for Silver Line Phase 2 rail service to Dulles Airport and Ashburn. Any revenue shortfalls from that launch would be covered in the following fiscal year鈥檚 budget.

Fare changes

The minimum rush-hour rail fare would rise from $2.25 to $2.35 under the final budget proposal, and the maximum would rise from $6 to $6.50, a lesser increase than initially proposed.

It would be the first fare hike in three years.

Fare changes also raise the mileage-based fee at rush hour for longer trips, so prices will rise more quickly for trips longer than 6 miles.

Peak fares will remain in place from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Outside of rush hour, the mileage-based fee for medium range trips will be lowered.

On weekends, Metro plans to charge a flat $2 fee for all rail trips on Saturday and Sunday.

Discounted rail fares for seniors and people with disabilities will be changed to half of the rail fare at that time of day 鈥� rush-hour, off-peak or weekends.

There are no changes to the pricing of most unlimited ride passes, but the seven-day bus pass will become cheaper going from $15 to $12.

Bus fares will remain flat, and Metro is also planning to double the transfer discount between bus and rail to $1.

Metro will also continue the Rush Hour Promise refund program.

Service changes

Metro plans to return to midnight closings Monday through Thursday, and to begin closing at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, after several years of restricted hours.

Sunday rail hours will remain 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., but Metro plans to run trains on a Saturday schedule — every 12 minutes, rather than the current 15 minutes on most lines. The Red Line would match the Saturday schedule of every six minutes rather than every eight minutes.

On weekdays, Metro plans to significantly reduce rail service between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. while still charging peak fares. Trains would run only every 12 minutes rather than every eight minutes on each line. Metro found this could have an undue impact on lower-income or minority groups, but also said that could be offset by the return of some late-night and weekend service levels.

Metro is also planning many bus changes, although not quite as many as proposed a few months ago after outrage from riders.

The bus cuts are estimated to save Metro $7.6 million. Riders were nearly uniformly opposed to service reductions of any kind in Metro鈥檚 public comment period.

DC

• 92 (U Street-Garfield) will cut the short trips that end at Eastern Market.
• D4 (Ivy City-Franklin Square) will cut all service after 10 p.m.
• D6 (Sibley Hospital-Stadium Armory) will cut late-night trips Monday through Saturday.
• E2 (Ivy City-Fort Totten) will cut all service after 10 p.m.
• 30N, 30S (Friendship Heights-Southeast Pennsylvania Avenue/Wisconsin Avenue) will cut the last trips in each direction at night.
• 80 (North Capitol Street) will cut the last two trips each way Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
• 96 (East Capitol Street-Cardozo-Tenleytown) will eliminate the last trips on Friday and Saturdays, and cut the remaining last trip to end at 14th and U streets Northwest.
• G8 (Rhode Island Avenue) will cut all trips to and from Rhode Island Avenue Metro on Friday and Saturday.
• H4 (Crosstown) will cut the last trip each way on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• P6 (Anacostia-Eckington) will cut all service between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
• W4 (Deanwood-Alabama Avenue) will cut the last northbound trip each day and the last southbound trip on Saturdays and Sundays.

Maryland

• B29 (Crofton-New Carrollton) will cut the whole line.
• B30 (BWI Marshall Airport) will cut the whole line.
• C4 (Greenbelt-Twinbrook) will cut late-night service weekdays.
• J2 (Bethesda-Silver Spring) will cut late-night service weekdays.
• K6 (New Hampshire Avenue) will cut late-night service weekdays.
• L8 (Connecticut Avenue) will cut early morning and evening service weekdays.
• T2 (River Road) will cut early morning and evening service weekdays.
• Y2 (Georgia Ave) will cut late-night service weekdays.
• Z6 (Calverton-Westfarm) will cut service to Burtonsville, extend service to Greencastle to replace part of Z8.
• Z8 (Fairland) will cut the whole line
• Z11 (Burtonsville-Greencastle Express) will cut the whole line

Virginia

• NH2 (National Harbor-Alexandria) will cut the section of the route from Huntington to King Street Metro and run less frequently.
• 3T (Pimmit Hills) will eliminate the segment between East Falls Church and West Falls church in December.
• 5A (Dulles Airport) will cut the whole line when the Silver Line opens to riders.
• S80, S91 (Springfield Circulator) will cut the whole line in December.
• 2A (Washington Blvd.-Dunn Loring) will cut the last trip each way on Friday and Saturday nights.
• 10A/10N (Alexandria-Pentagon) will cut all trips on Route 10N on weekends, and cut the last 10A trip each way Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
• 16E (Columbia Pike) will cut morning service on Sundays between the Pentagon and Franklin Square.

Metro does plan some weekend bus service improvements:

DC

• 80 (North Capitol Street) will run every 20 minutes, instead of every 30 minutes, on weekends.
• E4 (Military Road) will run more frequently — every 20 minutes on weekends.
• P6 (Anacostia-Eckington) will run every 20 minutes, rather than every 35 minutes, on weekends.
• S2 (16th Street) will run more frequently on Sundays — every 20 minutes.
• S9 (16th Street) will run more frequently on Sundays — every 20 minutes

Maryland

• 83/86 (College Park) will run every 30 minutes each rather than every 60 minutes on weekends, for service every 15 minutes where lines overlap.
• A12 (MLK Jr. Highway) will run every 45 minutes on Sundays (an increase in service).
• C29 (Central Avenue) will run every 30 minutes, rather than every 60 minutes, on weekends.
• F4 (New Carrollton-Silver Spring) will run more frequently — every 20 minutes on weekends.
• Y2/Y8 (Georgia Avenue) will run every 20 minutes, rather than every 24 minutes, on weekends.

Virginia

• 7A/7F (Lincolnia-North Fairlington) will run more frequently on Sundays, every 30 minutes.
• 23B/23T (McLean-Crystal City) will run more frequently on Sundays — every 30 minutes each — for service every 15 minutes where lines overlap
• 28A (Leesburg Pike) will run more frequently on Sundays, every 20 minutes.

MetroExtra

On weekdays, Metro plans to add some limited-stop MetroExtra improvements.

• 79 (Georgia Avenue) will run three more hours weeknights until 10 p.m.
• X9 (Benning Road-H Street) will run more frequently at rush hour and extend service weeknights by an hour to 7:45 p.m.
• K9 (New Hampshire Avenue) will add midday service.
• 16Y (Columbia Pike-Farragut Square) will extend morning rush hour service an hour to 10 a.m. and extend evening rush hour service an hour to 8:15 p.m.

In order to avoid other discrimination and planning provisions, Metro will not change the MetroAccess paratransit service area due to these bus service changes.

Money breakdown

Metro鈥檚 $2.1 billion operating budget and $1.8 billion capital budget is still largely as it was initially proposed this fall, without any major changes yet due to coronavirus concerns.

Local governments would be responsible for $1.2 billion in total operating subsidies for the bus, rail and paratransit system.

鈥淭he COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant unfavorability to Metro鈥檚 revenues and expenses in FY2020. The full extent and duration of the pandemic鈥檚 impacts to Metro and the region are unknown with significant uncertainty and potential to extend into FY2021,鈥� Metro documents said.

Other risks include stock market volatility, Silver Line Phase 2 ridership and uncertain federal funding.

The coronavirus relief package signed into law last week does provide a significant lifeline for Metro and other transit systems by filling the immediate hole from lost ridership.

Still, after factoring in the launch of Silver Line service next spring, the budget proposal calls for a 9.9% increase in operating funding from the District, a 10.2% increase in operating funding from Maryland, and similar increases for the local governments that foot the bill in Virginia.

Alexandria鈥檚 operating payment would rise by 8.1%, Arlington鈥檚 5.7%, the City of Fairfax鈥檚 15.4% and Fairfax County鈥檚 8.3%. Falls Church鈥檚 payments would drop 1.5% due to bus service changes, and Loudoun County is set to pay in for rail service for the first time.

Metro expects to collect $551.3 million in rail fare revenue and $117.8 million in bus fare revenue over the course of the year, plus $44.5 million in parking revenue and $35.8 million in advertising among other revenue streams.

Overall, Metro expects to recover about 57% of its costs for the rail system, 19% for the bus system and 4.5% for MetroAccess service.

That includes up to $17 million set to be shifted from the capital budget to the operating budget to make up for ridership losses due to major 24/7 track work like the closures planned this summer at Orange and Silver Line stops in Virginia.

The biggest operating budget cost is the people needed to run the system, at $1.39 billion.

Source

Virginia

In addition to expanding all-electronic tolling where possible, Virginia is planning to reduce the minimum amount required in E-ZPass accounts from $35 to $20 within the next few days, Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine told 小萝莉影视.

Virginia saw a bump in E-ZPass orders Wednesday, as more people aim to reduce their interactions with others amid social distancing efforts. The transponders themselves are free.

While half of Virginia鈥檚 16 toll facilities are always E-ZPass or video tolling only, the other half need to make changes to limit risks during the COVID-19 crisis by reducing or eliminating the use of cash.

鈥淭here are three in particular that we鈥檙e going to have to be a little bit more creative with,鈥� Valentine told reporters Wednesday.

The Dulles Greenway is the one in Northern Virginia that is not set up at this point to be totally E-ZPass only, but drivers can use an E-ZPass.

The Greenway also has a credit card payment option.

Like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel between Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach and the Richmond toll facilities including the Powhite Parkway, new safety precautions include cleaning of toll booths, keeping cash separate between shifts and ensuring hand sanitizer is available.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is looking at adding credit card machines outside their toll booths.

The Dulles Toll Road, operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, is still allowing cash payments for now, under the safety guidelines laid out by the state for gloves, hand sanitizer and separation of cash between shifts.

鈥淲e鈥檙e taking the recommended safety precautions for toll booth operators and discussing options regarding the toll collection system. We鈥檒l notify the public of any changes to the current system,鈥� spokeswoman Athena Hernandez said in an email.

Anyone who wants to avoid using cash can order an E-ZPass online or pick one up during their grocery trips at selected stores. DMV locations across the state 鈥� which usually offer E-ZPass 鈥� are closed.

鈥淵ou can order one for free, we will deliver it to you,鈥� Valentine said.

Drivers who are still paying with cash are encouraged to use exact change.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very much, you know, like a pickup or delivery at a restaurant. We鈥檙e trying to make that transaction as clean as possible,鈥� Valentine said.

Valentine also promoted the potential expansion of the new toll payment app that works on 12 of Virginia鈥檚 16 roads with an 85 cent service fee.

The always electronic toll prices on Interstate 66 inside the Beltway and the privately operated 95/395 Express Lanes and 495 Express Lanes have dropped dramatically compared to usual levels the last two weeks as so many fewer drivers have hit the road each day.

Maryland

Maryland, which directly controls all of its toll facilities, ended the use of cash at toll booths last week. Maryland is already in the process of permanently switching to all electronic tolls.

Drivers without an E-ZPass get bills in the mail, but anyone driving a rental car should be cautious about potential extra fees.

On Thursday, the Maryland Transportation Authority Board (MdTA) formally approved separate previously planned changes to start July 1 that lower the penalty for late payment of toll bills sent through the mail and providing an incentive to pay those bills more quickly to avoid getting the bill in the mail in the first place.

Starting this summer, the penalty for failing to pay a video toll bill within 45 days will drop from $50 to $25.

Drivers will also get a 15% discount on the higher video toll rate, up to $5 off, if they pay online before the bill is mailed.

Originally, that change had been planned to start in December, but it will now launch July 1.

The MdTA is also delaying a program allowing direct credit card billing of tolls from June to July to allow all of the programs to launch at once.

Under that program, rather than maintaining an E-ZPass account balance, drivers will be able to register their license plates and credit cards with the state. The charge will match the cash toll rates where toll booths are available and will be 25% higher than the E-ZPass toll rate on roads like the Intercounty Connector that are electronic only.

Video tolling, without the registration, costs drivers 50% more than the regular price.

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