FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2024

CONTACT
Stewart Schwartz, CSG
stewart@smartergrowth.net; 703-599-6437

Close the Gap! 

Today, the WMATA Board met to review a new FY25 proposed budget. The “Fund Metro!” coalition released the following statement:

“We thank the jurisdictions for proposing $480 million in additional funding for each of the next two years to help close WMATA’s FY25 and FY26 operating gap. But we urge our elected leaders to do more to reduce and even close the entire gap. Failure to close the entire gap will still mean some service cuts, fare hikes, impact on the workforce, and delays in the capital program.

Metro is critical to our region’s economy, access to jobs and opportunity, the functioning of our entire transportation system, and to fighting climate change. Transit should be our region’s top transportation funding priority. Funding should be shifted from highway expansion to Metro and our other transit needs.

In addition to fully closing the operating gap in FY25 and FY26, our region’s elected officials must come to an agreement by December 2024 on a long-term dedicated funding solution for Metro, while also ensuring continued progress on frequent, reliable, and safe service, operating efficiency, transparency and customer service.”

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The “Fund Metro!” coalition is made up of several DC-area nonprofit groups. List of all 18 groups who have signed on (to date): the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Active Prince William, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Clean Fairfax, DC New Liberals, Gaithersburg HELP, Grassroots Alexandria, Greater Greater Washington, Just Economics, League of Women Voters of DC, League of Women Voters of Maryland, Mobilize Frederick, Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center, Sustainable Mobility for Arlington County, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, BikeLoudoun, and YIMBYs of Northern Virginia.

Photo credit: ep_jhu