Maintain Essential Transit Service

Statement issued March 26, 2020

ACT is deeply concerned about WMATA's severe cutbacks in bus and rail service, which go far beyond the actions of other transit agencies in the region and elsewhere in the country. Transit is a lifeline for workers who provide medical care, food supply, and other essential services and residents who need access to health care and groceries.

Workers are being deprived of transit access to essential jobs. Bus route shutdowns and shortened hours are stranding shift workers in hospitals and groceries. Many employees of NIH and Bethesda Naval Hospital use the Grosvenor Red Line station, which is being closed today.

On routes not entirely shut down, crowding due to infrequent service threatens public health. Social distancing is impossible, endangering the essential workers who should be our first priority.

We urge WMATA to rescind the most recent round of cuts and restore its service to levels that provide transit access with social distancing for essential travel while doing everything possible to protect the health of its workers.