Washington’s Metro transit in line to receive $150 million annually for next decade

Safety issues continue to plague WMATA.

MWAA

Washington, D.C.’s, Metro can almost touch it. However, it needs to wait on a blessing from Congress.

A proposed $150 million in capital funding for FY 2020 is one step closer from being a living, breathing part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) budget. The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations has approved the amount for the next year and beyond. The bill now moves to the Senate floor, but lawmakers did not pass the measure before FY 2019 ended Sept. 30.

Metro will have to make sure to clear some hurdles if the money is approved. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriation bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate call for WMATA to receive federal approval of projects using federal money. WMATA also needs to show it is continuing to work on a safety management plan. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill has already passed the House.

Officials are trying to execute a 10-year funding plan for WMATA. Under the bills currently being considered Metro would receive the $150 million each year for the next decade. The Metro Accountability and Investment Act would match the $150 million for Metro from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

The money is needed to make safety-related repairs and maintenance required by the Federal Transit Administration, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board.

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