Watch CBS News

Metro Considers Cutting Night Service To Save Cash

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Metro's board of directors is discussing cuts to late-night service hours on the weekends in order to balance the 2012 fiscal year budget.

Metro staff members said Thursday that ending rail service at midnight on Friday and Saturday could save about $5 million.

Currently, trains run until 3 a.m. those nights.

Acting Deputy General Manager Dave Kubicek says ending late-night service would also free up the equivalent of at least 40 days a year for track maintenance.

The late night hours date back to 1999 when Metro's midnight closing was the earliest weekend closing times of major transit systems. The late hours have been popular with the nightlife crowd.

The board had discussed cutting service hours to balance last year's budget but rejected the idea.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.