UPDATE with petition information:

For those that are upset about WMATA's proposal to stop yellow line service to Shaw, here's a link to an online petition you can sign to voice your opposition:
MidCityLife.com

Personally, I don't ride Metro very much, but I'd rather see WMATA close one entrance at some stations than raise fares once again this year. They are probably required the keep the station entrances with the handicapped accessible elevators open, so the choice of which entrance to close is pretty clear in most cases. The Yellow Line extension overlaps with the Green Line service, so WMATA is not entirely ending service, simply reducing the frequency of train schedules. I don't know what ridership is like after midnight hours on weekends, but it would be a shame to cut services for those who work low paying jobs (closing up shop) who will need to take slower bus routes or find other modes of transportation (hopefully not forcing them to opt for the expense of personal cars) to get home.

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Hearing No. 552
Thursday, April 1
All Souls Unitarian Church, Pierce Hall
1500 Harvard St. NW, Washington, DC
All hearings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. An Open House will be conducted prior to eachhearing at 6:30 p.m.

WMATA representatives will be at our April 27 CCCA meeting, but there is a hearing on Thursday, April 1 about proposed cuts to Metro service in the Shaw area (smaller trains, limits on hours of operation — likely more crowding). Reductions in service are meant to reasonably to cut budget costs system wide, but public input is welcome. Shaw often seems to get the short end of the stick, sometimes because we don't take these hearing seriously while other neighborhoods do. The results are all around us.

Currently, Metro is faced with a significant operating budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY2011) that begins July 1, 2010.
A gap of approximately $189.2 million exists between anticipated revenues and expenditures.

Requests to speak may also be e-mailed to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com.

Written statements and exhibits must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Materials may be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Alternatively, you may send an e-mail to public-hearing-testimony@wmata.com.

Additionally, if you wish to participate in an opinion poll on possible options to resolve the funding shortfall, please go to: www.wmata.com/survey.cfm.

For all details see these fact sheets:
http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/B10-2_landing/docket/rail.pdf
http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/B10-2_landing/docket/intro.pdf
PROPOSAL: Close five stations entrances daily at 8:00 pm (includes Shaw/Howard South)
PROPOSAL: Close additional mezzanines on weekends (includes Shaw/Howard South, U Street East)
PROPOSALS: Close the rail system at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays
PROPOSAL: Eliminate the Yellow Line extension to Ft. Totten
PROPOSAL: Open system one-half hour later on weekdays
PROPOSAL: Open one hour later on Saturday and Sunday
PROPOSAL: Reduce weekday early morning service on all lines

Metro Bus lines will also be greatly affected (http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/B10-2_landing/docket/bus_dc.pdf) as well as our rates (http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/B10-2_landing/docket/fares.pdf)