Arlington Transit Service Cuts on the Table

The Arlington County Board in Virginia is considering a proposal to eliminate bus service on two Arlington Transit routes. On one line, midday service is averaging 7.4 riders an hour and only three riders an hour during rush hour on a segment of the route. Another line that is up for service cuts is averaging just four riders an hour on weekends.

The proposal estimates that cutting service could save the county up to $440,000 annually. City staff have noted that the cuts would leave neighborhoods in the northern part of the county without midday service.

"[City Manager Mark] Schwartz is proposing a total of $5.2 million in cuts this year, paired with a tax increase, though he has not proposed the sort of drastic spending slashes he initially feared," reports Alex Koma. The county board will work on the spending plan, including the possible bus service cuts, in the coming weeks with delivery of a final budget planned for April.