The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors supports proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress that would extend dedicated federal funding and expand on reform and accountability measures for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
For the last decade, Congress allocated $150 million annually to Metro for capital expenses, with Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia each providing $50 million in matching funds. The dedicated federal funding will expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to renew it.
In May 2019, Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, introduced the Metro Safety, Accountability and Investment Act of 2019, a bill that would renew the federal funding commitment to Metro, provide critical safety reforms and strengthen oversight of WMATA. A similar bill, the Metro Accountability and Investment Act, was introduced in the House by Virginia Representatives Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer and Jennifer Wexton, and their counterparts from Maryland and the District of Columbia.
“Loudoun County has invested heavily in Metro because we recognize that Metro is an essential transportation option for our residents and people across the region,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall. “Virginia, Maryland and the District have dedicated significant funding to ensure Metro operates safely and reliably. Because Metro is a crucial resource for federal workers, it is only fair that the federal government also support Metro; I urge Congress to act and pass this important legislation.”
The Metro is the third busiest rail system in the United States, currently averaging more than 600,000 trips per day. More than half of all Metro stations serve federal facilities and nearly 40% of peak morning riders are federal employees. In 2020, three new Metro stations are scheduled to open in Loudoun County: Dulles Airport, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn.
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