This post was written by Hatchet reporters Jeff Richards and Kira Brekke.

Metro is conducting maintenance on the Orange, Red and Blue lines throughout January and into February that will cause passengers to add at least 20 to 30 minutes of additional travel time when they use Metrorail from Sunday to Thursday nights.

This work, part of the scheduled maintenance, began Jan. 3, according to a Metro news release. On the Red Line, maintenance will start at 8 p.m. and go until closing at midnight. On the Blue and Orange Lines, work will start at 9:30 p.m. and go until closing.

Trains will be share one track on the Red Line between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations during the maintenance.

On the Blue and Orange Lines, travelers taking Metrorail between the Foggy Bottom and Clarendon stations and Arlington Cemetery stations are being encouraged to add at least 30 minutes of time to their trip.

Metro workers will be replacing rail fasteners and repairing the concrete slabs underneath the rails. Switch repairs will also be made at the Rosslyn station.

This year, there has been a $40 million budget gap, which has prompted Metro to try to increase passenger revenue and reduce costs. Reducing costs could potentially mean changing bus routes, reducing service hours, and closing a few Metro stops at nights and on weekends. In response, Metro has proposed a 10 cent fare increase.

“Year to date, average weekday rail ridership is almost 2.5 percent below last year’s levels and more than 5 percent below budget,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe in a news release. “Bus ridership is almost 6 percent below last fiscal year and 12 percent below budget.”

Any changes that could occur within both Metrobus and Metrorail schedules would not take effect until around March 1, and will apply through June 30, 2010.

The 2011 budget deficit is projected at around $175 million, and public hearings regarding the 2011 fiscal year are expected to take place later this spring.

Metro is welcoming public opinion on the raise. People can contact the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, if they wish to voice their opinions at the upcoming public hearing on Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m located at the Metro Headquarters, 600 5th St. NW. Each registered person will be given up to three minutes to speak. For more information or to register to speak, e-mail [email protected] or call (202) 962-1133.