Metro Votes to Kill Late-Night Service

WASHINGTON, DC — It's happening: Metro's board of directors voted Thursday to suspend late-night service for at least two more years.

Metro has traditionally stayed open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, but WMATA has proposed rolling that back significantly for the foreseeable future in light of chronic issues throughout the system and a looming budget crisis.

The new plan that was approved by the board would have trains running from 5 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Fridays, from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Saturdays and from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sundays.

General Manager Paul Wiedefeld says that these new hours will help the system get "Back2Good." However, the proposal has been met with opposition from riders and local leaders, who say that the hours cutbacks will negatively affect the poorest residents the most. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro Board Chair Jack Evans aren't pleased about the proposal, but officials signed off on it anyway.

The changes would take effect July 1.

Image via Wikimedia user Ben Schumin