Metro passengers might not be spared from paying higher fares despite plans to ease the transit system’s looming budget crunch.

General Manager John Catoe will tell Metro’s board of directors Thursday that he has identified $45 million that can be shaved from the system’s proposed fiscal 2009 operating budget. A projected revenue shortfall of $141 million remains, however.

The reduction comes from decreasing planned service expansion, saving $21 million; delaying a planned $12 million deposit into a reserve fund; and moving $12 million in debt repayments to the capital budget.

A Metro spokesman declined to elaborate on what services might be scuttled, but possibilities include fewer new railcars and buses, less security and safety training,

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and ending extra Yellow Line service.

Catoe said last week that he would hold off until next month on making a revised fare-increase proposal, but Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel said the general manager plans to outline possible increases Thursday. Two weeks ago, board members blasted Catoe for wanting to raise the minimum rail fare from $1.35 to $1.75, among a slew of other increases.

Catoe’s Thursday presentation assumes that $33 million can be generated through increased subsidies from local jurisdictions, leaving $109 million to come from higher fares.

The board will not be asked to approve higher fares Thursday. Catoe will only ask directors to schedule public hearings on a possible increase. A vote on whether to charge riders higher rates would probably be held in January, with the new fares taking effect as soon as February, if adopted.

“There still seems to be a difference between how much the jurisdictions are willing to increase their subsidies and new costs that are relatively well justified,” said Peter Benjamin, who represents Maryland on the board. “There appears to be a need to go to public hearings so we can be prepared if we need to increase fares.”

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com