Over the last three years, Metro has been focused on rebuilding the system and restoring safe and reliable operations for our customers through Metro Forward, its $5 billion-dollar, six-year investment program. While Metro is currently bringing the system back up to where it should be, the agency has also started planning for the future to ensure that Metro is able to carry the millions of more riders that are expected to come in the future, and to help keep the region's economy moving.

To start planning, Metro talked to over 11,000 stakeholders to understand the region's priorities. A set of common themes emerged:

• Make no small plans for Metro
• Recognize Metro is critical to the region's future
• Keep rebuilding
• Reduce crowding
• Provide better customer information
• Ensure stable funding

"Our customers know that many trains, stations and buses are already crowded and we need to begin planning now to prevent that from worsening and prepare for more riders. As the jurisdictions plan various expansion projects, we also need to make sure that we have a seamless, multimodal, transit network and Metro is in a unique position to serve as the transit planner for the national capital region." Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles

From these themes, Metro developed a staff draft plan, Momentum. The draft plan starts with safety as the highest priority, and emphasizes the importance of maximizing the current transit network by utilizing every bit of capacity available. To make this a reality, Metro proposes the following initiatives be implemented by 2025:

• Operate all eight-car trains (longest possible) during rush hour by acquiring additional railcars, power capacity, and railcar storage.
• Expand or enhance high-volume rail transfer stations in the Metro system core to ease congestion for existing customers and to accommodate more riders in the future. Build new underground pedestrian connections between select stations such as the Farragut Stations or Metro Center/Gallery Place.
• Enhance and make bus service faster by completing the PCN, which outlines a variety of improvements that allow buses to bypass traffic congestion.
• Seek to restore peak period Blue Line service between Pentagon and Rosslyn stations through the construction of underground tracks.
• Become a one-stop shop for all regional transit trip planning, and payment for the region's 15 transit systems. Upgrade communications systems for better, more accurate, and audible information for riders.
• Expand bus fleet and storage/maintenance facilities along growing corridors.
• Build new rail infrastructure, such as pocket tracks and crossovers, to improve service for customers and provide more flexibility in the system.

Watch this video on what Metro means to some of our passengers, caught during our last Momentum event at Gallery Place.