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The FY2026 Proposed WMATA Metro Budget is Here – Have Your Say!

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On January 30, 2025

In Announcements, WMATA

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has released its proposed FY2026 budget, and now is the time for residents to review the changes and make their voices heard.

Public feedback is crucial in shaping how Metro serves our community, so I encourage everyone in College Park and beyond to share their thoughts on the proposed updates.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Budget

✅ Fares Stay the Same – No increase in Metrobus or Metrorail fares from FY2025.

✅ New Open Payment Options – Metro is introducing additional payment methods to make transit access more convenient.

✅ Service Changes:

• Metrorail will open earlier on weekends – now at 6 AM.

• Late-night service extended – Metro will now close at 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

• Yellow Line Extension – Half of Yellow Line trains will extend to Greenbelt, increasing service frequency for College Park riders.

These changes aim to enhance reliability, improve accessibility, and expand service hours to better serve riders. However, your input is vital to ensure that Metro continues meeting the needs of our community.

Submit Your Feedback

WMATA wants to hear from you! Visit wmata.com/initiatives/budget to review the full budget details and submit your feedback.

The deadline to comment is approaching, so don’t miss this chance to make an impact on the future of public transit in our region!

Metrorail Green Line Shutdown

By

On July 16, 2023

In WMATA

Green Line Metro riders: Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing, & West Hyattsville stations will be closed July 24 – Sept. 4, and no Green Line at Fort Totten July 22-23. Free shuttle service is available. More here.

Greenbelt and College Park Metro to Close During Summer

By

On January 24, 2023

In WMATA

Metro stations on Green Line in MD & Orange in VA that just saw months-long summer shutdowns in the past few years will be shut down again this summer. No service from Greenbelt to Fort Totten July 22-Sept 4,

Green Line shutdown is for fiber-optic cable installation Metro says it was unable to do when Greenbelt, College Park, West Hyattsville, & what was then Prince George’s Plaza all closed 3+ months in summer 2021 – that was only a year and a half ago now they’ll close again!

Green Line shutdown is for fiber-optic cable installation Metro says it was unable to do when Greenbelt, College Park, West Hyattsville, & what was then Prince George’s Plaza all closed 3+ months in summer 2021 – that was only a year and a half ago now they’ll close again!

Metro to Keep Reduced Rail Service Levels Through Year End

By

On November 22, 2021

In WMATA

Metro announced today that Metro customers can expect to see current (reduced) rail service levels through December 31,

With no timeline established to return the 7000-series fleet in the interest of safety, and 6000-series railcars awaiting parts due to global supply chain challenges, incremental service improvements will be made during December as parts arrive for older model railcars.

Nearly 75 percent of Metrorail stations have trains arriving at least every 10-12 minutes, as many stations are served by multiple lines. More frequent service depends upon available railcars meeting safety standards, while Metro continues to test new inspection protocols for its newest 7000-series railcars, which were sidelined in October.

Testing to confirm that the new inspection intervals are sufficient to safely return the trains to passenger service is ongoing this month. Engineers, safety and operations teams are preparing a return to service and mobilization plans to reposition more than 748, 7000-series railcars. The railcars that have been in storage will need to be prepared for service and inspected more frequently once they are back in passenger service.

Metro typically experiences lower ridership around the holidays and is still operating with 70 percent fewer riders on average weekdays as the region recovers from the pandemic. Before the pandemic, rush-hour trains often carried approximately 100-120 passengers per car at their busiest points, and today trains are less crowded, with 50-80 passengers average per car.

The rail service outlook for January 2022 will depend upon the successful completion of the 7000-series test plan and restoration plan – both of which require acceptance from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission – and the operational plan to remobilize the fleet for passenger service. Metro expects to update its service plans before the end of the calendar year.

Metro also is using this time to prepare for the launch of Silver Line phase two service, as testing, training personnel and resources are required to ramp up for the expected start of passenger service in 2022.

[Source: WMATA]

Platform Improvement Project Update for Greenbelt Station

By

On June 12, 2021

In Announcements, WMATA

Two weeks into the Summer 2021 Platform Improvement Project work, the project team has already demolished the existing platforms at Greenbelt Station.

Construction crews began by prepping the site with a temporary access ramp for the crane rental to access the platform during demolition work. They will also put up plain heras fence covers for a temporary fence to mark the boundaries of the site. Once the site was mobilized, crews got to work demolishing the existing platform tiles and topping slabs. Eventually, they may need to seek Mobile Crane Rental Solutions to start the construction process. Choosing mobile crane hire Perth means you have your choice of a wide variety of cranes, each suitable for different purposes, while also being able to take advantage of the crane company’s expertise in lifting and logistics.

In the mezzanine area, the construction team installed a primer on the skylights, removed the existing fare gates and fare machines and installed new slip-resistant tiles and lighting fixtures. In the coming weeks they will pour the new platform edge, install the granite edges, lay conduit for the CCTV, lighting, and fire alarm systems and install the structures for the new customer experience improvements.

Read more in our latest construction update: https://wmata.com/service/rail/PlatformProject/Two-weeks-into-the-Summer-2021-Platform-Improvement-Project-work.cfm

Or, sign up to receive project updates here: https://wmata.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=43a25de97c3751f8ad8bb03f2&id=d3f2eebce1

(WMATA Press release)

More Metrobus Service Starts Sunday

By

On June 5, 2021

In Announcements, WMATA

Beginning tomorrow, Sunday, June 6, Metro customers who need to get to work or home late at night will have more options when Metrobus extends late-night service on dozens of bus lines throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia. Buses on 36 of Metro’s busiest routes will operate until 2 a.m., seven days a week, providing a vital link for those that depend on public transit.

The return of late-night bus service coincides with the region’s pandemic recovery as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and the region prepares to fully reopen. In addition, Metro will add more frequent service and restore more routes as part of service improvements to more than 60 routes. The service changes will increase Metrobus service to approximately 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

Learn more: https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Late-night-Metrobus-service-expands-additional-service-restored-starting-Sunday.cfm?fbclid=IwAR0MhBUCU3O1f0kmFhvxKzmPyURatXvoBIuY-I4Kvy350YTN6nli6QQajXE

Find More About Metro’s Upcoming Summer Closing Plan

By

On May 17, 2021

In WMATA

At tomorrow’s Council meeting, Charlie Scott, Metro’s Senior Government Relations Officer will be making a presentation about Metro’s upcoming platform improvement project in the Summer this year.

Currently, the concrete platforms have been exposed to weather and de-icing agents for decades. Platforms built 35-40 years ago are now deteriorating and in need of repair to maintain safety and accessibility. Additionally, Metro plans to improve customer experiences on the platform.

Due to the repair work during May 29 — September 6 at the Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Prince George’s Plaza, and the West Hyattsville, no Green and Yellow line rail service north of Fort Totten will operate.  During this period, Yellow line trains will operate between Huntington & Mt Vernon Sq, and Green line trains will operate between Branch Ave & Fort Totten stations.

 

Green/Yellow Line Riders asked to Plan Ahead for Track Work in May

By

On April 22, 2021

In Announcements, WMATA

Metro is reminding Green and Yellow line customers to plan ahead for scheduled track work May 1 through May 9. That will require free shuttle buses to replace trains at four stations over one weekend and the weeklong closure of West Hyattsville.
The work will occur during the previously scheduled May 1-2 weekend shutdowns of West Hyattsville, Prince George’s Plaza, College Park-U of MD, and Greenbelt, and during the week of May 3 through May 9, when West Hyattsville will be closed. The FEMA Community Vaccination Center at Greenbelt will remain open during this time. For more information, visit this site.

Metro Proposing to Close College Park Station, Cut Bus Services

By

On February 25, 2021

In WMATA

College Park – UMD Metro Station

Recently Metro has released its FY 2022 budget, which you can find here on Metro’s website.

According to the proposed budget, Metro is proposing to close the College Park – UMD station. Additionally, it’s planning to eliminate bus route 86, which serves College Park and the Route 1 corridor, and modifying bus route 83 to terminate at Greenbelt Metro station.

Other proposed changes to the Metrorail system are 30-minute service frequencies between trains, currently 12 minutes, and a decrease in parking fees from $5.20 to $4.95 in Prince George’s County.

Metro will be hosting a Public Hearing on the proposed changes on March 8, 2021, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., March 9, 2021, at 6 p.m., and March 10, 2021, at 6 p.m.

Also, please take this survey on Metro’s budget proposal here.

The City Council will discuss the WMATA budget at our next week’s Council meeting.

Metrobus Resumes Fare Collection & Front-Door Boarding on Jan. 3

By

On December 27, 2020

In Announcements, WMATA

In case you missed it, starting Sunday, January 3, Metrobus will resume fare collection and front-door boarding as part of Metro’s pandemic recovery plan that aims to preserve service and transit jobs.

With nearly everyone wearing masks, shields for operators on every bus, and enhanced daily cleanings, front-door boarding is safe, expands our capacity for more riders, and helps us resume some normalcy.

According to Metro, the return of front-door boarding and fare collection is consistent with recovery efforts by major transit agencies across the country including Baltimore, New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Houston, Portland, Oakland, and San Francisco.

As always, customers can use their SmarTrip card or exact change. For a faster, safer, contactless way to pay, you can also add SmarTrip passes to your Apple Wallet and pay using your iPhone or Apple Watch. (Payment support for Google Wallet on Android devices is coming soon.)

For more information, please visit here.

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