Metro approves nearly $5 billion budget to maintain service, avoid major cuts

Gabby Allen
·2 min read

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors approved a $4.8 billion budget on Thursday to maintain bus and rail service levels.

In a news release, WMATA said it faced “catastrophic cuts to service” last year due to a $750 million budget shortfall, about 25% of its funding needs.

In a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025, Metro anticipated a decrease in Metrobus service and the elimination of 67 bus lines. Metrorail service cuts included the closure of 10 stations and a 10 p.m. closing time across the entire Metro system.

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Budget cuts also would have reduced the amount of maintenance, police presence and other customer service functions, creating severe crowding, longer police response times and more frequent elevator and escalator outages.

In short, the budget would have presented an “unrecognizable” Metro, WMATA stated.

“Fortunately, in collaboration with jurisdictional partners, the necessary funding will be provided to prevent these draconian cuts,” WMATA said.

Although D.C., Maryland and Virginia provided millions in funding, customers will see a 12.5% increase in fares to further help bridge the budget gap.

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Bus fares and base rail fares will increase from $2 to $2.25 and the maximum rail fare will increase from $6 to $6.75.

Late-night and weekend fares also will increase from a flat $2 to a charge between $2.25 and $2.50, based on distance. MetroAccess fares will be capped at $4.50, an increase from $4. Parking fees, however, will not change.

In addition to simply avoiding drastic changes, Metro said it also is allocating money for 256 new 8000-series railcars, investing in more electric buses, replacing aging bus garages, maintaining track and vehicles and working toward a modern automated train control signaling system.

The budget will go into effect on July 1.

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