County legislators are resisting efforts by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) to delay construction of a second entrance for the Bethesda Metrorail station.

In his proposal for the county’s six-year capital spending plan, Leggett said he wants to defer $43.7 million in project funding over the next four years. A committee of the Montgomery County Council took a key vote Monday to recommend deferring only $15.9 million of that funding.

Leggett’s delay drew immediate criticism from transportation activists and business leaders. Construction of the entrance is key to Purple Line operations, the critics say, and a delay would send a signal that the project is no longer a county priority.

Metro has scheduled six public hearings at which the public can submit testimony on plans to raise transit fares and fees. They will begin on Feb. 27 and continue through March 6.

Each of the hearings will be preceded by an open forum, at which people can talk about any topic related to Metro operations, not just the budget proposals that the board eventually will vote on.

The public hearings, which will begin at 7 on each of the nights listed below, are required whenever Metro proposes a fare increase or a service cut. The open forums, which begin an hour earlier, are a bit more elaborate then the ones that Metro has held.

The transit authority says the forums will include a video presentation on Metro’s rebuilding program, tables staffed by senior Metrobus, Metrorail, MetroAccess, SmarTrip and police officials, and a place where people can submit answers to an online survey about Metro’s priorities. They also can submit written comments, Metro says.

See Metro’s docket for the public hearings.

See a story by Lori Aratani and Dana Hedgpeth about the fare increase proposals.

Registering to speak

Metro asks that people who want to speak at the hearings submit their name, address, telephone number and organization affiliation, if any, to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. They also can submit the requests by fax to 202-962-1133 or by e-mail to speak@wmata.com.

The transit authority asks that the submissions refer to the hearing number. I’ve listed the hearing numbers in the following schedule.

(J. Scott Applewhite - Associated Press) Metro could lose $15 million in federal funding under President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal.

The president’s budget notes that “given the difficult fiscal circumstances,” he proposes to reduce Metro’s annual grant, known as PRIIA — or the Passenger Rail Improvement & Investment Act of 2008 — funding by $15 million.

In his proposal, it notes that the president’s surface transportation plan would “substantially increase overall transit funding.”

Metro counts on roughly $150 million a year in PRIIA funding to use toward its aggressive capital improvements plan. That money is matched by the local jurisdictions.

Travelers will find this week milder than the past few days, the Capital Weather Gang says. The best chances of rain are Tuesday and Thursday.

Despite the season, drivers will encounter some road work disruptions across the D.C. region, but the ones at the Capital Beltway/Interstate 66 interchange are particularly noteworthy.

Metro has plenty of track work scheduled this week, leading up to some major disruptions over the Presidents’ Day weekend.

Metro weekday maintenance

Metro plans maintenance on four train lines this week during off-peak hours.

Red Line: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, trains will share a track between Friendship Heights and Medical Center. The transit authority anticipates delays up to 10 minutes.

During late-night service Monday through Thursday, trains will share a track between Van Ness and Medical Center and between New York Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue.

The single-tracking will begin at 10 p.m. Monday, and at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. (The Capitals play at Verizon Center at 7:30 p.m. Monday.) Once work begins, Red Line trains will leave their terminal stations every 30 to 35 minutes. Riders should add 20 to 25 minutes to their usual travel times.

Orange Line: Starting at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, trains will share a track between Foggy Bottom and Ballston. This will clear room for work in preparation of this weekend’s switch replacement project. More details on that below.

Trains also will share a track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory. After 10 p.m., trains will operate every 30 to 35 minutes. Add 10 to 15 minutes extra to your usual travel time.

Blue Line: From 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, trains will share a track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery stations. As with the Orange Line single-tracking in the same area, this clears room for the prep work on the switch replacement.

Blue Line trains also will share a track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory and the trains will operate every 30 to 35 minutes. Riders should allow 15 to 20 minutes more than their usual travel times.

Green Line: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, trains will share a track between Southern Avenue and Naylor Road. Add 10 minutes to the usual travel time.

12:25 p.m. Update: D.C. police say the southbound lanes have reopened, but be alert for delays due to rubbernecking.

11:45 A.M. Update: D.C police report that 295 southbound is closed at Laboratory Road due to an overturned dump truck. Traffic is being rerouted to the access road.

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