Leggett scales back bus cuts, would increase parking fines

The cash-strapped county also is looking at expanding the hours of paid parking in the county and eliminating free street parking in smaller business districts.

Leggett said the public outcry over his proposal to cut nine weekday and 15 weekend routes led him to reconsider. He first proposed cutting nine weekday routes. His new proposal would cut only three weekday routes, but includes the cuts to the weekend routes.

“We were listening to the public, and a lot of people said ‘charge us more,'” said Leggett’s spokesman, Patrick Lacefield.

The fare increases would mirror the proposed 25 cent increase on current fares proposed by Metro staff. Metro has approved a temporary 10 cent increase from March 1 through June 30.

In a memo to the County Council, Leggett emphasized the county’s dire financial situation and pressed the county to pass his proposed cuts. The county has a projected deficit of more than $600 million, which county officials said Thursday may grow significantly.

But Councilman Roger Berliner, D-Potomac/Bethesda, balked at the new proposal, saying he considers the bus service a “core government function” and opposed cuts to the weekend routes. Berliner said he would like to look at other proposals to help ease the county’s budget woes other than cutting the bus routes.

“They don’t come back once you do this, they don’t come back,” Berliner said.

County Council staff recommended other measures to reduce the need for cuts to Ride-on routes, including expanding the hours and locations of paid parking, cutting county subsidies to companies that promote public transportation to their employees, and suspending free rides for children and seniors.

Leggett’s initial proposal would eliminate 52 bus driver positions. Lacefield said he didn’t know what effect the revised proposal would have on potential layoffs.

The full council is scheduled to vote on the proposed cuts Tuesday.

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