Metro would close at 1 a.m. on weekends and 11:30 p.m. on weeknights under the proposal being recommended to the board this week as the preferred option.

General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld has called for a permanent reduction in late-night hours to give the transit agency more time for track work and inspections. In earlier interviews, he suggested that “option C” — the one being recommended by Metro staff — was likely to be the one recommended to the board.

Metro says it received an “unprecedented” 16,000 public comments on the issue, and the overwhelming preference, selected by 45 percent of respondents, was for a 1 a.m. weekend closing. Before SafeTrack began in June, Metro stayed open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The system currently closes at midnight every day of the week.

Still, Metro admits, implementing the earlier closings would have a disproportionate impact on minority and low-income populations. Metro justifies the change by saying the riding public overwhelmingly prefers the option. Other proposals would close the system at midnight Monday through Saturday, but keep early openings each day of the week, and; close it 30 minutes earlier on weekdays to keep late closings on Sunday night. A fourth option would keep the system open until 3 a.m. on weekends, but delay Sunday opening until noon.



Metro’s span of service proposals, which were put up for public discussion in October. (screenshot: Metro)

Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans, who also is a D.C. Council member, has said he would oppose any option that would close the system before 3 a.m. The council voted unanimously in October to urge Metro to restore late-night service.

[D.C. Council calls on Metro to restore late-night service]

Metro’s proposal will be put to its first board vote this week. The new hours, if eventually approved, would go into effect beginning in July.