Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 2, 2008

Statement from Metro on Congressional Funding

Metro officials grateful to Congressional delegation

The U.S. Senate passed rail legislation (HR 2095) last night that included a provision to authorize $1.5 billion in federal funding for Metro over 10 years for capital improvements and critical maintenance. Similar to stand-alone legislation introduced last year in both the House (HR 401) and Senate (S 1446), the provisions in this bill renew efforts to provide dedicated funding to help maintain the Metro system in a state of good repair so that Metro can continue to efficiently serve this region, including the federal workforce, which constitutes a substantial portion of its rush-hour riders.

“Our congressional delegation and others in Congress have worked hard to move this legislation through both the House and the Senate. We are grateful for their efforts to protect the substantial investment the federal government and the national capital region have made in the Metro system.” said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

“Metro is an asset designed to support the federal government as well as the entire region,” Mr. Catoe noted. Nearly half of all Metrorail stations are located at federal facilities and nearly half of peak ridership consists of federal employees.

“A safe, secure, and reliable Metro system is also a critical component for ensuring the continuity of federal operations during an emergency,” Catoe said.

"There is still much to be done, but this is a big step forward," said Metro Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman. "This is an important element in the new partnership that we must establish to meet the large and growing mobility needs of the national capital region, both for the federal government and the people of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia."

The bill will now be sent to the president.

News release issued at 8:39 am, October 2, 2008.