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Metro officials propose Silver Line delay in Loudoun County amid drop in ridership revenue
Metro officials propose Silver Line delay in Loudoun County amid drop in ridership revenue
By Nathaniel Cline, ncline@loudountimes.com Sep 13, 2020 Updated 5 min ago
The anticipated opening of the Metrorail Silver Line in Loudoun County may be delayed until next summer due to low ridership revenue amid the pandemic and no sign of further federal assistance.
Metro’s ridership and revenues have dropped due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to Metro staff, which has led the agency to conclude that it will run out of funding by the end of the year.
The Silver Line project is one of several measures the Metro finance committee recommended to the Board of Directors for cuts. The public will be allowed to weigh in on the proposed cuts, and the board is expected to vote Sept. 16.
{snip}
Metro staff said approximately $139 million in cost savings needs to come from service reductions and fare adjustments. One of the options includes delaying the Silver Line Phase 2 opening until July 1, 2021. ... A firm opening date has never been set for Metro's opening in Loudoun County, but most recent estimates have been for the first half of 2021. Metro's arrival at the Dulles Airport and into Loudoun is already two years behind schedule.
{snip}
By Nathaniel Cline, ncline@loudountimes.com Sep 13, 2020 Updated 5 min ago
The anticipated opening of the Metrorail Silver Line in Loudoun County may be delayed until next summer due to low ridership revenue amid the pandemic and no sign of further federal assistance.
Metro’s ridership and revenues have dropped due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to Metro staff, which has led the agency to conclude that it will run out of funding by the end of the year.
The Silver Line project is one of several measures the Metro finance committee recommended to the Board of Directors for cuts. The public will be allowed to weigh in on the proposed cuts, and the board is expected to vote Sept. 16.
{snip}
Metro staff said approximately $139 million in cost savings needs to come from service reductions and fare adjustments. One of the options includes delaying the Silver Line Phase 2 opening until July 1, 2021. ... A firm opening date has never been set for Metro's opening in Loudoun County, but most recent estimates have been for the first half of 2021. Metro's arrival at the Dulles Airport and into Loudoun is already two years behind schedule.
{snip}