THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP THIS WEEK ONE LAST BIG RACE FOR HISTORIC PEP CO. AND PIMLICO AND CHANGES FOR WASHINGTON METRO COMMUTERS.

FIRST, MARYLAND HE AFINANCIAL REPUTATION TAKES A HIT.

MOODY'S DROPPED THE STATE'S AAA BOND RATING.

MOODY'S WROTE THE STATE ADDRESSED A TREND OF OVERSPENDING IN PROGRAMS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF TAX INCREASES AND RESTRAINTS ON EXPENDITURES.

THESE ACTIONS CLOSED A BUDGET GAP ALTHOUGH THE NEED FOR FURTHER CORRECTIVE STEPS MAY ARISE FROM FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS OR THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF FEDERAL LAYOFFS AND OTHER POLICY SHIFTS TO WHICH MARYLAND HAS A HIGH GROW OF EXPOSURE.

JOINING US NOW SENATORS JIM ROSAPEPE, THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE BUDGET AND TAX COMMITTEE AND JUSTIN READY WHO IS THE SENATE MINORITY WHIP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SUBJECT OF THE DOWNGRADE, SENATOR READY HOW BIG A DEAL IS IT REALLY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A STUNNING DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN -- WE'VE HAD A TRIPLE A BOND RATING BEFORE I WAS BORN AND BEFORE GOVERNOR MOORE WAS BORN.

IT IS A SOBERING ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE FROM A FISCAL STAND POINT IN THE STATE AND CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION ON THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON.

>> Jeff: SENATOR ROSAPEPE YOU ARE IN FINANCE TO EQUATE THIS TO SOMEONE'S PERSONAL FINANCES IS IT SIMILAR TO MAYBE YOUR CREDIT SCORE GETS DINGED AND WHEN YOU GO TO BUY THAT NEW CAR, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY MORE INTEREST.

IS THAT ABOUT IT?

>> YES, BUT IT IS A SMALL DING THEY CHANGED FROM TRIPLE A TO DOUBLE-A 1 AND NEGATIVE TO STABLE.

IN REALITY, IT PROBABLY IS GOING TO LEAD TO A 1-5TH OF 1% CHANGE.

FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW IT IS TINY BUT IT'S BIG THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, OR GEORGE W. BUSH OR CLINTON, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH OR BARACK OBAMA OR DONALD TRUMP 1.0.

ALL OF A SUDDEN HAPPENED SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAME PRESIDENT FOR THE SECOND TIME ON JANUARY 20TH.

IT IS THE TRUMP DOWNGRADE WE'VE SEEN SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IS AN ATTACK ON MARYLAND'S ECONOMY.

THE STOCK MARKET IS DOWN.

THE RASH IS DOWN.

THE ECONOMY SHRUNK IT IS A HIT ON MARYLAND.

>> DONALD TRUMP DID NOT PROMPT THE DOWN RATING, THE DEMOCRATS ABOUT.

TO BLAME SOMEBODY ELSE NOW.

SOMEONE BEING PRESIDENT FOR 100 DAYS AND RESTRUCTURING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BILL CLINTON REDUCED THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL WORK SOURCE.

OUR FRIENDS IN VIRGINIA ARE ALMOST IN A SIMILAR BOAT TO US AS FAR AS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT BEING A BIG PART OFTER ECONOMY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR BOND RATING DOWNGRADE.

IT IS A MARYLAND PROBLEM A RESULT OF TOO MUCH OF A FOCUS ON FEDERAL SPENDING AND ALSO RECKLESS SPENDING AND BUDGETS WE HAVE IN THE STATE.

MOODY'S WARNED US A YEAR AGO BEFORE DONALD TRUMP WAS EVER PRESIDENT.

AND LASTLY I WILL SAY WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MARYLAND BOTH MARYLAND STATE GOVERNMENT AND MARYLAND TAXPAYERS ARE FEDERAL TAXPAYERS.

WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO NOT BE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT.

THE IDEA REDUCING AND RESTRUCTURING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEANS THAT WE LOSE OUR TRIPLE A BOND RATING IT'S TRYING TO ABSOLVE GOVERNOR MOORE AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

I DON'T THINK IT PASSES THE SMELL TEST WITH FOLKS.

>> Jeff: SENATOR ROSAPEPE I WILL PUT OUT AT THAT TIME THE MOODY'S QUOTE WE READ AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM MENTIONS THE IMPACT OF THE TRUMP CUTS, BUT IT ALSO BLAMES MARYLAND FOR OVERSPENDING.

>> WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE CAME INTO THE SESSION WITH A DEFICIT WE CAME OUT WITH A SURPLUS AND MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION WITH TRUMP AS A LEADER THEY ARE TERRIFIED IF THEY CROSS TRUMP HE WILL GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SECURE THEM OR ELON MUSK.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN A DIFFICULT DECISION.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DEMOCRATS CAN STAND UP TO TRUMP.

WE CAME WITH WITH PROJECTIONS OF A BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE WENT OUT WITH A SURPLUS.

WHO VOTED AGAINST OUR BALANCED APPROACH?

THE REPUBLICANS.

SO WE ARE MAKING THE HARD DECISIONS AND THEY ARE MAKING I GET IT.

>> Jeff: ON THE HARD DECISIONS HOW MUCH OF THE BLAME GOES TO THE BLUEPRINT?

THE GOVERNOR, WHO WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR WITH THE HELP OF THE TEACHERS' UNION WANTED TO ROLL THAT BACK AND HE GOT MAYBE A PARTIAL VICTORY AND THE BLUEPRINT IS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIOAL SPENDING EACH YEAR.

HAD THE LEGISLATURE DONE THE WAY THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED WOULD THAT POSSIBLY HAVE FORCED ALL THIS DOWNGRADE?

>> I DON'T THINK AT ALL.

I THINK WE AGREE WE NEED CHANGES IN THE BLUEPRINT AND THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED CHANGES OF THE BLUEPRINT.

WE HAD THE BLUEPRINT LAST YEAR, IT WAS THIS QUARTER SINCE JANUARY 20TH THAT THE ECONOMY SHRUNK IN THE UNITED STATES.

MARYLAND IS THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE ATTACK OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SENATOR READY MAKES A POINT THAT BILL CLINTON MADE CHANGES AND DIDN'T CREATE THIS CRISIS IT ONLY HAPPENED UNDER DONALD TRUMP.

>> IT IS A CRISIS BECAUSE WE ARE OVERLY DEPEND END ON FEDERAL SPENDING BECAUSE OUR PRIVATE SECTOR JOB AND ECONOMY IS STAGNANT.

AND WHEN MY FRIEND TALKS ABOUT MAKING THE HARD CHOICES TO BALANCE A BUDGET, THE SUPER MAJORITY, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHAT THEY DO THEIR HARD CHOICES THEY NEVER MAKE THE HARD CHOICE TO TELLING THE TRUTH.

THEY KPTD'S TELL INTEREST GROUPS WE HAVE TO CUT BACK GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

BECAUSE TO THEM IT'S CUTTING OFF THEIR ARM WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO MAKE CUTS.

AND THIS SESSION THE BUDGET ENDED UP BEING LARGER THAN YEAR AND THEY RAISE TAXES THE LARGEST TAX HIKE IN THE HISTORY OF MARYLAND AND MOODY'S DOWNGRADES US BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING BIG CHANGES, NEEDED CHANGES.

BUT IT'S CLEAR MOODY'S AS BEEN WARNING FOR A LONGTIME, IT'S CLEAR WITH WE HAVE OVERCOMMITTED THE TAXPAYERS OF MARYLAND TO A MERCEDES BENZ GOVERNMENT BUDGET WHEN OUR FOLKS ARE GETTING BY ON FORD PINTO BUDGETS RIGHT NOW IN THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

>> Jeff: JUSTIN, IT'S INTERESTING MAGNITUDEDY'S SEEMED TO LIKE THE TAX INCREASES BECAUSE ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS WHETHER THE BONDS ARE GOING TO GET REPAID.

>> RIGHT.

SURE.

MOODY'S DOESN'T MIND TAX INCREASES EVERY BUSINESS AND EVERY CONSUMER THAT WILL PAY THE HIGHER FEES AND TAXES DOES MIND.

THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE REPAYMENT OF THE BONDS BUT THEY ARE RECOGNIZING, MARYLAND'S ENTERING A FINANCIAL SPIRAL WHERE WE CAN'T KEEP RAISES TAXES TO PAPER OVER THESE DEFICITS.

YES, THE FEDERAL CUTS, THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE A FACTOR.

BUT EVERYBODY ANYBODY REASONABLE AND WE WARNED AS MARYLAND SENATE REPUBLICANS WARNED FOR A LONGTIME IF WE DIDN'T MAKE CHANGES AT SOME POINT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO REFRIEND TRENCH.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHETHER YOU LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPROACH AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS MY FRIEND QUOTED THEY ARE STARTING TO TURN AROUND NOW.

THE MARKET IS BACK UP.

THERE IS A NUMBER OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING.

CONSUMER PRICES ARE GOING DOWN.

IN A LOT OF AREAS.

BUT WHETHER YOU WANT TO DEBATE ABOUT THAT OR NOT THE FACT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RETRENCH.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN MARYLAND FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE CRUSHED PRIVATE SECTOR JOB GROWTH AND THESE TAX INCREASES THAT PASSED, FELL HEAVIEST ON THE INVESTORS AT THAT TIME WOULD BE INVESTING AND CREATING MORE JOBS AND BUSINESS.

WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS THAT AND NOT BLAMING THIS ON A PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN PRESIDENT FOR 100 DAYS.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING YOU SAID TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT.

IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE EXISTING DEBT.

THIS HASN'T COST THE STATE A PENNY YET.

BUT YOU TALKED ABOUT A 5TH OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY OUR BONDS.

INSTEAD OF PAYING 4%, IT'S GOING TO BE 4.2%, IS THAT ABOUT IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW YOUR MATH IS NOT RIGHT.

IT IS A TINY AMOUNT.

THAT IS MY POINT.

FINANCIALLY IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL BUT IT IS A SIGNAL OF THE DAMAGE THE MARYLAND ECONOMY THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE.

THAT IS THE KEY POINT.

THE STOCK MARKET WAS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WHEN JOE BIDEN WAS IN OFFICE.

IT'S DOWN.

WITH ALL THE TARIFF MISCHIEF HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE PORT OF BALTIMORE?

THAT AFFECTS MARYLAND.

THE DOLLAR IS DOWN.

AND NOW OBVIOUSLY MOODY IS DOWNGRADING BECAUSE OUR STATE IS MORE EFFECTIVE.

MOODY'S SAYS WE ARE MORE AFFECTED THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND JUSTIN CAN SAY IT WOULD BE NICE, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK MEDICARE IS GOOD AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE IS GOOD.

AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT POSITION AND I RESPECT THAT.

I'D LOVE TO COME TOGETHER BUT THIS SESSION WE MADE THE HARD CHOICES AND PASSED A BALANCED BUDGET AND TURNED A DEFICIT INTO A SURPLUS.

>> SENATORS WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TO OLD HILLTOP WHERE THE PREAKNESS STAKES IS ON TAP FOR TOMORROW AND CHANGES FOR EVERYONE AS CHARLES ROBINSON REPORTS.

>> WHAT MAKES PIMLICO UNIQUE IS THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

THIS IS A PEOPLE'S RACE EVENTS AND I THINK YOU KNOW, THE RENOVATIONS ARE NEEDED AND IT WILL BE GREAT TO COME BACK AND SEE IT IN ITS BEST FORM LIKE A MAKEOVER IT WILL BE GOOD.

>> I'M SO BLESSED TO BE HERE.

THEY JUST HAVE A WONDERFUL ATTITUDE AND FEELING HERE.

VERY ALL CONSUMING AND ACCEPTING AND I JUST THINK IT'S AWESOME.

>> THESE LADIES ARE JUST ONE OF MANY WHO SHOWED UP AT THIS YEAR'S ALIBI BREAKFAST.

IT WAS STARTED IN 1930.

TRAINERS AND RIDERS DECIDED TO SHARE TALES OF THE BACK STRETCH AND GIVE PEOPLE AN INSIDER'S VIEW ON HORSERACING.

THE IDEA WAS SIMPLE.

RIDING AN EXCUSE WHY YOUR HORSE DID NOT WIN.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMORIES HERE AT PIMLICO, ESPECIALLY DURING PREAKNESS.

I WATCHED ONE YEAR WHEN A PATRON DECIDED TO RUN ON THE TRACK WITH THE HORSES WERE COMING TO THE GATE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WAS ONE YEAR WHEN THE ACTUAL POWER WENT OUT.

BUT ALL THOSE MEMORIES AND NOW IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE.

>> WHEN THEY FOR DOWN MEMORIAL STADIUM IT WAS ALL SORTS OF CONCERN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THEY WILL HAVE IT AT LAUREL AND IT WILL BE BACK HEAR THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND WHEN MEMORIAL STADIUM LEFT SO MANY NEW MEMORIES CAME.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE WITH THE NEW REIMAGINE PIMLICO.

>> THE PAY RONES WAS RACING ROYALTY.

DEAN AND BOB THEY HAVE PRO US INTRODUCED WINNERS AND CAUTIONED COMPETITORS AND DROVE HOME THE POINT THAT THOROUGHBRED RACING NEEDS TO HAVE A TRIPLE CROWN TO FOCUS THE SPORT.

NO ONE KNOWS WHO WILL BE VICTORIOUS AND THE DON THE BIB AS THE WINNER.

AT PIMLICO I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY AMATA.

>> A LOT OF VETERANS ARE OR BECOME FRUSTRATED IN TERMS OF NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM.

>> THAT'S WHY VIETNAM WAR VETERAN Dr.LEWOOD GRAY OF SILVER SPRING STARTED THE AMERICAN MINORITY VETERANS RESEARCH PROJECT.

IT IS A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING ALL.

BUT ESPECIALLY THE MINORITY OF VETERANS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY NEED HELP NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM TO ACCESS THEIR PINS AND CITATIONS.

>> IT MEANS A LOT TO THE VETERAN AND THE VETERAN'S FAMILY.

>> OR BENEFITS IN THE CASE OF THOSE WHO DIED IN COMBAT.

>> THE BENEFITS BELONG TO THE FAMILY AND SO WE HELP THE FAMILY TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, THE GROUPS THAT CAN HELP THEM TO GET LIKE THE BURIAL BENEFITS.

>> IN MANY CASES THE AMERICAN MINORITY VETERANS RESEARCH PROJECT HELPS VETERANS AND FAMILIES LOCATE THEIR SERVICE RECORDS AS WELL AS FIGURE OUT THE MOUNTAIN OF PAPERWORK THAT CAN BE REQUIRED TO GET BENEFITS.

WHAT IS REMARKABLE IS WHO IS DOING THE RESEARCH?

IT'S MOSTLY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO GET SERVICE HOURS OR STIPENDED FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

HE THEY DO THE RESEARCH FROM A DORMITORY AND A LIBRARY.

SOME OF THE STUDENTS COME WITH THE PASSION, BECAUSE EITHER THEIR UNCLE OR THEIR COUSIN OR AUNT OR RELATIVE IS IN THE MILITARY.

>> THE RESEARCH HELPS VETERANS GET JOBS, OPEN BUSINESSES AND ACQUIRE HOUSING.

>> A VETERAN CAN BUY A HOUSE WITH NO MONEY DOWN.

>> THE AMERICAN MINORITY VETERANS RESEARCH PROJECT HELPS VETERANS GET MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY.

IN SOME CASES CONNECTING VETERANS WHO FIND A COMFORT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> I COME TO THE GROUP AND I CAN BRING THAT TO THE GROUP AND THEY CAN IDENTIFY WITH IT AND TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Dr. GRAY HAS A MESSAGE FOR THOSE VETERANS WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR AND WHERE TO START.

>> CALL US IMMEDIATELY.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: A BETTER BUS NETWORK IS COMING TO METRO WASHINGTON AS COMMUTING PATTERNS CHANGE RAPIDLY WITH RETURN TO OFFICE DIRECTIVES.

WE SPOKE WITH METRO'S CHIEF TRANSPORTATION OFFICER, LEROY JONES.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON RIDERSHIP IT'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

APRIL WAS OUR BEST MONTH FOR RIDERSHIP SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S ALSO OUR 50TH STRAIGHT MONTH WITH MONTH OVER MONTH RIDERSHIP GROWTH.

WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN RIDERSHIP GROWTH.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ALSO ON WEEKDAYS IN APRIL WE AVERAGED JUST OVER 927,000 COMBINED TRIPS PER DAY.

THAT WAS 515,000 ON RAIL AND 413,000 IN BUS.

AND WE'VE SEEN MILLION DAYS.

I THINK WE HIT THAT MARK IN LATE MARCH.

AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE DAYS OF ONE MILLION TRIPS ON METRO RAIL AND BUS COMBINED.

IT WAS DURING THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL ONE SATURDAY WE PEAKED THE 710,000 TRIPS ON SATURDAY.

AND THAT WAS A HISTORIC DAY FOR US.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE NEARLY RECOVERED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC DECIMATED RIDERSHIP FOR MANY TRANSIT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP ON BUS REMAINED STEADY IN TERMS OF GROWTH.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE AT 102% COMPARED TO PREPANDEMIC AND RIGHT AROUND 82% ON RAIL.

SO FOR THE LAST MONTH OF APRIL.

WE ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD.

SO TRAINS WE'RE SEEING FULL TRAINS DURING RUSH-HOUR PERIODS PEAK PERIODS.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

OBVIOUSLY WE GOT AN ORGANIC BUMP WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAME BACK TO THE OFFICE FULL-TIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> Jeff: WITHIN THE RIDERSHIP TRENDS I'M CURIOUS IF YOU SEE MORE RIDERS ARE ON CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK?

WHEN THE FEDS HAVE ORDERED PEOPLE BACK TO THE OFFICE FULL-TIME, IT'S FULL-TIME.

BUT A LOT OF PRIVATE SECTOR MAYBE EMPLOYERS TELLING PEOPLE TO COME IN THREE OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

SO I'M GUESSING YOUR LIGHTER ON FRIDAYS WHICH WAS MAYBE ALWAYS THE CASE ANYWAY.

>> LET ME TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE AND I WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY.

SINCE THE FED RETURN WE'VE SEEN I A39% INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP.

WE'VE SEEN AN ORGANIC BUMP THERE.

OUR RIDERSHIP PEAKS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.

WE SEE A SLIGHT DECREASE ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS AND WE ARE SEEING GROWTH ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

>> Jeff: TELL ME ABOUT THE BETTER BUS INITIATIVE.

WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

>> YES.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BETTER BUS WE ARE LAUNCHING BETTER BUS ON JUNE 29TH.

OUR BUS SYSTEM IS 52 YEARS OLD.

AND WE'VE NEVER REALLY TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDESIGN THE OVERALL NETWORK.

WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS HERE AND THERE.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE THE DC REGION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE DURING THE COURSE OF THIS NETWORK REDESIGN WE HAVE TRIED TO TAKE THE BEST APPROACH FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW CAN WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO PROVIDE THE BEST BUS NETWORK FOR THE REGION.

WE ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING NEW SERVICE THAT DOESN'T EXIST TODAY.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW ROUTE GOING FROM THE FONT PLAZA TO NATIONAL HARBOR.

NATIONAL HARBOR DID NOT EXIST YEARS AGO.

AND EXAMPLE A ROUTE THAT WILL BETTER WARD 7 NEIGHBORHOODS TO WASHINGTON OUR HOSPITAL CENTER.

WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE CONNECTIVITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THIS REGION.

>> Jeff: WHAT I RECALL FROM SIMILAR REIMAGININGS OF BUS NETWORKS IN OTHER PLACES IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY HAPPY.

PEOPLE TRYING TO GET FROM DOWNTOWN TO NATIONAL HARBOR FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE UNHAPPY BECAUSE THERE'S LESS FREQUENT SERVICE EITHER TO THEIR COMMUNITY OR TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET TO.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE THINGS?

>> YES.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A SENSITIVE TOPIC AND I WANT TO SAY FROM DAY ONE THE TEAM HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TO ENGAGE WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE DIDN'T WAKE UP LAST YEAR AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO REDESIGN THIS NETWORK.

WE HELD THREE ENGAGEMENTS TO THE ENTIRE REGION IN THE FALL WITH 2022.

WE DID ANOTHER ROUND OF FEEDBACK AND CUSTOMER INPUT SPRING OF 2023.

AND THEN ANOTHER ROUND SPRING OF 2024.

AND THIS IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN THAT WE'VE EVER TAKEN ON HERE AT METRO.

SO MUCH SO THAT WE'VE ENGAGED OVER 45,000 PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, SOME ARE CURRENT CUSTOMERS AND SOME THAT COULD BE CUSTOMERS.

WE HAVE RECEIVED WELL OVER 21,000 COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT 2025 BUS NETWORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT WITH THE VISIONARY NETWORK.

IN ADDITION, WE'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN 12,000 SURVEY RESPONSE AND WE'VE HELD OVER 130 CUSTOMER FOCUSED EVENTS ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

ALSO, IN ADDITION TO ENGAGING úTHE PUBLIC, WE'VE ALSO ENGAGED OUR TEAM OVER 1400 TEAM MEMBERS, OVER 800 BUS OPERATORS ALMOST A THIRD OF OUR WORKFORCE.

AND OTHER OPERATION STAFF AND WE'VE ALSO HELD 120 BRIEFINGS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE REGION ALONG WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.

SO WE'VE DONE -- WE'VE BEEN INTENTIONAL TRYING TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

IN DC THERE IS NO PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS, SO METRO IS THE WAY THAT STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN WITH THEM PRIOR TO SCHOOL ENDING AND ANOTHER ROUND PRIOR TO SCHOOL BEGINNING.

WE'VE DON A LOT OF OUTREACH AND TO YOUR POINT, IT'S PERSONAL.

BECAUSE THE BUS IS ACTUALLY SOMEONE'S CAR.

SO WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING USING DATA AND MAKING SURE THAT WE TELL THEM ABOUT ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

>> Jeff: DOES THIS REQUIRE ANY CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF BUSES OUT THERE THE NUMBER OF BUS OPERATORS THAT YOU HAVE AT METRO?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THIS IS A COST NEUTRAL NETWORK REDESIGN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DEPLOY ANY OTHER BUSES OR HIRE MORE OPERATORS.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS USE A NEW TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF A SCHEDULING SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICE WITH THE SAME RESOURCES.

>> Jeff: DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY FOR I KNOW AT A METRO RAIL STOP YOU CAN SEE WHAT TRAIN IS COMING NEXT, HOW MANY CARS IT HAS AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON YOUR PHONE AS WELL.

ARE YOU AT THAT POINT WITH METROBUS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO DO OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS IS MAKE THE EXPERIENCE AS CLOSE TO THE RAIL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, WE DO HAVE DIGITAL TEEUN SIGNS THE MANY BUS STOPS SOME WE DON'T HAVE IT BUT WE'RE BEING STRATEGIC WHERE WE DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES WITH HIGH RIDERSHIP.

WE HAVE INSTALLED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DIGITAL SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE BUS NETWORK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.

BETTER BUS IS NOT JUST ABOUT REDESIGNING THE BUS SYSTEM IT'S ABOUT THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

ONE OF WHICH YOU JUST TOUCHED ON.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING IN THE NETWORK REDESIGN WE ARE TOUCHING OVER 7,000 BUS STOP FLAGS AND POLES WHERE WE ARE REPLACING ALL OF THE BUS STOP FLAGS WE ARE CHANGING ALL OF THE BUS STOP ALL OF THE ROUTE NAMES.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN NOT JUST LEADING UP TO THE NETWORK REDESIGN BUT FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS TO COME ALONG THE WAY.

>> Jeff: BACK TO RAIL FOR A SECOND.

I KNOW REINSTATING AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL HAS BEEN A PRIORITY.

TALK FOR A SECOND ABOUT WHERE IT STANDS AND WHAT THAT IS AND ISN'T.

>> SO LET ME CLARIFY ONE THING AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROLS IT'S AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION.

AND THE AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION IS AUTOMATED SYSTEM WHICH WAS IN PLACE WHEN METRO WAS DESIGNED WHEN WE OPENED UP 50 YEARS AGO.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS YOU HAVE A HUMAN BEING BEHIND THE CONSOLE OF THE TRAIN AND JUST THINK OF YOUR CAR.

CRUISE CONTROL THAT IS WHAT THE TRAIN IS DOING WHEN IT'S IN AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION.

WE IMPLEMENTED THAT IN DECEMBER 2024 ONS RAIL LINE AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.

WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ALONG THE WAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THAT ACROSS OTHER LINES IN THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: ONE MORE QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE COMMANDERS ARE TALKING ABOUT MOVING TO THE OLD R.F.K.

STADIUM SITE.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT THAT MEANS FOR METRO?

OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE METRO RAIL RIGHT THERE.

WOULD IT REQUIRE ANY CHANGES?

>> STILL IN THE EARLY STAGESES OF THAT CONVERSATION I AM A COMMANDER FAN TO I'M HAPPY WE ARE GOING TO GET A NEW STADIUM I DON'T HAVE FURTHER DETAILS TO PROVIDE.

I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION GOING ON AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW-UP AS MORE DETAILS BECOME AVAILABLE.

ONE THING I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON IF POSSIBLE, GOING BACK TO EARLIER PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE JUST SO FOCUSED ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO Mr. JONES AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".