WMATA’s board preliminarily approves Metrorail service extensions

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) board gave preliminary approval last last week to a $3.5 billion fiscal-year 2020 budget that includes plans to extend transit service.

The proposed budget calls for extending the Yellow Line to double rush-hour service at nine stations north of Mt. Vernon Square station that currently experience crowding conditions, and double service at three Red Line stations that currently don’t have all trains on the line serving them, WMATA officials said in a press release. The FY2020 budget includes funding to run all Red Line trains through the Forest Glen, Glenmont and Wheaton stations. 

WMATA will receive $150 million in dedicated federal grant funding each year authorized by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. Those funds will be matched by $50 million each from the District of Columbia, state of Maryland and commonwealth of Virginia, for a total of $300 million annually for safety improvements and repairs, according to a WMATA Finance and Capital Committee agenda document.

Before FY2020 begins on July 1, WMATA officials will need to submit applications for those grants in April to the Federal Transit Administration, which will review and approve them. 

The budget includes $2 billion in operating expense and $1.5 billion in capital program spending.