Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 15, 2004

Metro’s Board Budget Committee approves Metro Matters funding agreement

Today, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Board Budget Committee approved a $3.3 billion funding agreement, a strong six-year commitment from the state and local governments in the metropolitan Washington region that also envisions increased federal funding to help pay for Metro’s short-term capital needs, commonly known as "Metro Matters." (The $3.3 billion includes $1.8 billion in previously pledged funding, as well as $1.5 billion in new commitments.)

Some of the short-term needs include investment in basic infrastructure (fixing leaking tunnels, and upgrading power and communications systems); purchasing 120 new rail cars (so that 8-car trains can run on one-third of the system) and buying 185 more buses (to meet continuing demand and reduce crowding). The short-term needs also include critical security enhancements, which will require additional federal funding to implement."Today’s agreement uses an aggressive, but responsible money management approach by moving to an expenditure-based capital program, thus reducing overall program costs in the early years," said Metro Board Chairman Robert J. Smith. "Today’s agreement converts funding for Metro’s Capital Program to a pay-as-you-go approach for the state and local jurisdictions that fund Metro. While this approach helps ease state and locals, it still requires a strong commitment from the federal government."

The Metro Matters funding agreement details funding for four urgent priorities including:

  • 1st urgent priority - Infrastructure Renewal Program for deferred rail and bus maintenance rehabilitation: $524.9 million;
  • 2nd urgent priority - Rail Car Program to exercise the option to purchase 120 new rail cars, expand three rail yard shops, and system improvements required for 8-car train operations: $600.6 million.
  • 3rd urgent priority - Bus Program to purchase 185 new buses, a new maintenance facility, customer services and intelligent transportation systems: $171.5 million; and
  • 4th urgent priority - Security Program to provide a continuity of operations, mainly in the form of a backup operations control center; $143.5 million.

"Today’s decision was a critical step in the 28-year history of Metro," said Metro Board Budget Committee Chairperson Gladys Mack. "The funds approved today will go toward protecting the Metro investment by replacing and rehabilitating assets such as trains, buses, elevators, and escalators, bringing additional capacity to customers by putting eight-car trains into service and more buses on the roads, and enhancing security and ensuring Metro can continue to move people if there is a regional emergency." Last fall, Metro officials called upon federal, state, and local partners to come together to fund Metro’s capital needs to sustain the system. At a bare minimum, Metro required $3.3 billion in urgent capital funding over the next six years to protect and secure the $9.4 billion it took to build the Metrorail system.

"Metro ties the Washington region together. It brings people from all walks of life together for a common cause and a common good. It is ’America’s Transit System,’ a national monument in its own right," said Metro Board Vice Chairman Dana Kauffman. "Today, this region has come forward with a commitment that over the next six years, $3.3 billion will improve reliability, reduce crowding and enhance security. Everyone will benefit from this commitment."

Although this is a great accomplishment for the region, the funding agreement may not be enough to address all of Metro’s short-term needs. For example, the agreement depends on significant assistance from the federal government: $260 million on top of what Metro already receives for rail cars, plus $143 million for security needs. Moreover, the funding agreement does not solve Metro’s long-term needs.

Metro Matters is only a six-year commitment and does not fully-fund critical rehabilitation needs beyond 2010. Only a small portion of needed capacity improvements is funded. A plan for dealing with Metro’s long-term capital and operating needs is still unresolved. The Metro Matters agreement buys approximately six years before more problems reoccur and does not cover security issues.

Approximately 1.15 million trips per day are made on Metro, and another 250,000 trips per day are made on the region’s local bus and commuter rail systems.

Full final approval of the Metro Matters funding agreement will occur at the October 21 Board of Directors meeting.

News release issued on October 15, 2004.