What are we Greece? Austerity Measures Continue for Metro

Photo by PoPville flickr user John Sonderman

From WMATA:

“Facing a nearly $300 million budget gap, Metro will close most in-person sales offices effective Tuesday, November 15, 2016. The move is part of a series of internal actions Metro is taking to reduce expenses and minimize the impact of possible fare increases and service reductions next year.

Four Metro sales offices – located at Metro Center, Pentagon, Anacostia and Northern Bus Garage – will be closed. On average, each of the four offices handles fewer than 200 transactions per day.

Metro estimates that only 0.03 percent (three hundredths of a percent) of riders will be impacted by the closures, because the overwhelming majority of Metro sales transactions can be performed at station fare vending machines, online at wmata.com, regional commuter stores, or at retail outlets including CVS and Giant stores. In recent years, Metro sales offices have seen a significant decline in usage while their cost to operate has increased.

The sales office at Metro Headquarters, located at 600 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC, will continue to offer full service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.”