The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) boards jointly endorsed recommendations from the DMVMoves Task Force and called on regional leaders to advance funding solutions to support Metro’s long-term modernization and strengthen coordination among the region’s 14 transit operators, including Metro, MARC, VRE, and local bus systems.

The recommendations outline a unified regional vision for a modern, seamless, and world-class transit network that supports economic growth, efficiency, and safe, reliable access across the National Capital Region. A key proposal includes $460 million in new annual capital funding for Metro, beginning in Fiscal Year 2028. This investment would allow Metro to reinvest in and modernize its bus and rail system.

In addition to the new capital funding for Metro, the Task Force recommended a set of actions to make transit more efficient and easier to use across the regional network of Metro, commuter rail, and local bus. These actions include implementing bus priority projects along high-priority corridors to improve bus speeds and reliability for riders and lower long-term operating costs, integrating fare policies, such as consistent discounts for low-income riders and free fares for children, and improving customer information, like standard bus stop designs.

In endorsing the investment plan for Metro, the DMVMoves Task Force recommended that the funding should be unencumbered and grow by 3 percent annually to ensure the system’s long-term financial stability. If secured, the funding would ensure:

• Ongoing repair, maintenance, and modernization of assets, systems, and technologies;
• Deployment of rail modernization—modern signaling, compatible fleet upgrades, and selective platform screen doors—to improve safety, reliability, capacity, and efficiency;
• The creation of a sustainable bond program to support long-term investments, maintain the system’s state of good repair, and strengthen overall financial stability.

Following the joint endorsement, regional advocacy will begin to seek the enactment of funding legislation by the DC Council and the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures.

DMVMoves was created in May 2024 by the Boards of Directors of COG and Metro to create a unified vision and sustainable funding model for the region’s transit network. This unprecedented regional effort was led by a task force of officials appointed by COG and Metro and chaired by COG Board Vice Chair and DC Councilmember Charles Allen and Metro Board Vice Chair Paul Smedberg. It was also supported by two advisory groups representing government and community partners, chaired by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill and Greater Washington Board of Trade President and CEO Jack McDougle respectively.

-via Press Release