For immediate release: January 19, 2018

Metro invites public to comment on FY2019 budget and capital investment

Metro is inviting the public to provide feedback on the Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal focused on continued capital investment without raising fares or cutting service.

To balance Metro's $3.2 billion budget for the coming fiscal year, Metro is seeking additional funding from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia governments while continuing to take actions to cut costs and increase business revenues.

As part of the budget, Metro's Capital Improvement Program invests $1.3 billion in funding safety improvements, rebuilding the Metro system and improving reliability of the current rail and bus networks. It also funds the deployment of new trains and buses, station upgrades and other important improvements.

Metro values the input of its customers. Comments will be provided to the Metro Board for consideration prior to adopting the budget. The public is encouraged to comment by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2018:

  • Provide comment online
  • Attend an open house Wednesday, January 31, 2018*, at 5:30 p.m. followed by a public hearing starting at 6 p.m. Speaker registration is onsite only.
    Metro Headquarters Building
    600 Fifth St. NW
    Washington, DC 20001
    (via Metrorail: Gallery Place or Judiciary Square)
    *Note that dates may change due to weather and check wmata.com/budget for any schedule changes.

The budget proposal includes several key initiatives:

  • Continued delivery of 7000-series railcars to replace older, less reliable trains
  • New buses and paratransit vehicles
  • Additional improvements or maintenance for tracks, stations, rail power and radio and wireless systems
  • Reduce costs through management actions and competitive contracting
  • Limit the growth of the jurisdictional operating subsidy for Metro to three percent, or $29 million in FY2019

To view the full docket and for more information about the proposed capital and operating budget, visit  wmata.com/budget.

All comments submitted online, along with written statements and public hearing comments will be part of the official public hearing record and submitted to the Board of Directors in March 2018 as part of the final decision making process.

Metro's fiscal year 2019 budget and any approved changes would take effect in July.

Additional Information

The location for public hearing and outreach locations are wheelchair accessible. Any individual who requires special assistance such as a sign language interpreter or additional accommodation to participate in the public hearing, or who requires these materials in an alternate format, should call 202-962-2511 or TTY: 202-962-2033 as soon as possible in order for Metro to make necessary arrangements. For language assistance, such as an interpreter or information in another language, please call 202-962-2582 at least 48 hours prior to the public hearing date.

How to register to speak

All organizations or individuals desiring to be heard will be afforded the opportunity to present their views and make supporting statements and to offer alternative proposals. Public officials will be allowed five minutes each to make their presentations. All others will be allowed three minutes each. Relinquishing of time by one speaker to another will not be permitted.

There will be no advance registration to speak. Those wishing to provide oral testimony will sign up to speak at the hearing, will be called to testify in the order they sign up, and can sign up to speak at any time prior to the close of the hearing. Elected public officials will be allowed to provide their testimony as soon as feasible after their registration. If you will not be able to stay to provide your testimony orally when your name is called, staff will provide you with multiple ways to submit your comments into the public record including the use of a digital recorder to record your oral comments.

How to submit written testimony

Testimony may be submitted online about Metro's operating and capital budget at wmata.com/budget. Online submission will be available through Monday, February 5, 2018 at 5 p.m. This is in addition to your ability to speak at a public hearing.

For those without access to computers or internet, testimony may also be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. All comments must be received by the Office of the Secretary by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2018 to be included in the public record.

The comments received by the Office of the Secretary, along with the online submissions and public hearing comments, will be presented to the Board and will be part of the official public hearing record.

Please note all statements are releasable to the public upon request, and may be posted on WMATA's website, without change, including any personal information provided.