Metro plans public forums

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Metro riders " disgruntled or otherwise " soon will be able to sound off every week before the agency's board of directors, who said the move will help improve the transit agency's public image.

New board Chairman Dana Kauffman announced the plan for public forums, beginning in April, while outlining his agenda for the year.

"We've went a quarter-century without input from the riders, which is very unorthodox," he said at a press conference yesterday. "We want to actively engage riders in issues."

Mr. Kauffman, a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said the agency expects to form its first passenger advisory committee by July 1.

"This action will give everyone the benefit of regular, formal feedback from actual customers who use our services," he said. "I commit to you today that we will listen and that this will be the start of an ongoing dialogue with our customers."

Mr. Kauffman acknowledged the potential backlash if Metro does not move quickly enough on the public's suggestions, but said the benefits outweigh potential problems.

"Is there a risk?" he asked. "Of course. But as a local elected official, I get exposed to that every day. So why not do it?"

The Sierra Club sent a letter to Metro officials in December suggesting 10 steps to improve public relations. The letter included most of the initiatives announced by Metro, including the passenger advisory committee and the public-comment periods.

Sierra Club members said the initiatives are essential to improving public relations and keeping riders informed.

"Metro's moving in the right direction," said Dennis Jaffe, a member of the Sierra Club's D.C. chapter. "There's definitely still a long way to go. But the Web broadcast of board meetings, which wasn't our idea, is [also] a significant step."

Mr. Kauffman also emphasized the agency's need for a permanent funding source.

To avoid a third straight year of fare increases, jurisdictions covered the $41.7 million shortfall in Metro's $1 billion operating budget for fiscal 2006 and the $31.1 million projected budget gap for fiscal 2007.

"While this board and our funding partners acknowledge this continued growth and pulled together to realize a six-year, $3.3 billion Metro Matters funding agreement, it's only a short-term fix to help with urgent priorities," Mr. Kauffman said. "At best, it offers us shelter for about three years before we face the funding countdown again."

To pay for an extension of Metro's Orange Line, the Commonwealth Transportation Board yesterday approved the increase of tolls by 25 cents on the Dulles Toll Road. The board said revenue from the increase will help fund Virginia's share of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

Mr. Kauffman called the approval a "vital next step in making rail to Dulles happen."

Construction could begin as early as 2006 on extending the line from Falls Church through Tysons Corner, Reston and out to Washington Dulles International Airport.