“If service levels are to be maintained, additional revenue will have to be found”

That’s the sad truth, according to regional transportation guru Chris Zimmerman (on the Boards of WMATA, NVTC, NVTA, TPB, VRE, and Arlington), who laments that the Federal stimulus will focus on creating new jobs while not working to save jobs that transit agencies all over the country are being forced to slash as their budgets collapse due to the recession (900 from WMATA alone). Furthermore, history shows that transit agencies hurt themselves when they cut service, since lower service often leads to fewer riders. Raise fares, and customers complain but stick around. Cut service, and more of them leave.

Unfortunately, this probably means that Metro will have to raise fares. If the alternative is infrequent trains and shuttered entrances, I hope they do.