Next fiscal year's budget that begins July 1 is comprised of both the operating budget and the capital budget which funds the purchase of new trains and buses, station upgrades and other important improvements. And while it doesn't include a fare increase or service cuts, there are some proposed changes.

Metro has collected your  comments and will provide them to the Board of Directors who will make a  decision in the spring.

• Eliminating the ability to add value to a SmarTrip® card on Metrobus.
• Including a free bus pass with a rail pass.
• Creating a discounted student pass for participating universities.
• Providing a 15-minute grace period to exit for free from the station you entered.

Understanding Metro's Operating Budget

Metro's projected expenses to operate buses, trains and paratransit for next year are approximately $1.7 billion. The fares paid by riders cover roughly half the cost of operating the system, along with a small amount of additional funding from advertising, joint development and other sources. The remaining funding comes from the state and local governments that participate in Metro.

Understanding Metro's Capital Improvement Program

Metro is proposing to invest $1.1 billion in the safety and reliability of the system next year through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP budget is focused on safety improvements, the rebuilding of the Metro system, and improving the effectiveness of the current rail and bus networks.

Significant investments planned for the coming year include:

• Vehicles/Vehicle Parts ($497.7 million), including bus replacement and rehabilitation; rail car replacement and rehabilitation, rail car safety and reliability enhancements, MetroAccess vehicle replacement, replacement parts, and preventive maintenance;
• Rail System Infrastructure Rehabilitation ($86.7 million), including rail line segment rehabilitation;
• Maintenance Facilities ($120.4 million), including bus garage rehabilitation and replacement, and rail yard rehabilitation and capacity improvements, and maintenance facility rehabilitation;
• Systems and Technology ($139.2 million), including power system upgrades, operations support software, business support software and equipment, and rail fare equipment;
• Track and Structures ($77.6 million), including track rehabilitation, station and tunnel leak mitigation;
• Passenger Facilities ($124.8 million), including elevator and escalator facilities, station rehabilitation and other improvements such as station capacity project development, bus priority corridors, and bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements;
• Maintenance Equipment ($55.0 million), including rail and bus maintenance, and business facility equipment;
• Other Facilities ($5.6 million), including business and transit police support facilities; and
• Project Management and Support ($21.2 million)

In addition to these investments, Metro will continue to  make investments in Metro 2025 capital projects. Investments to prepare for increased 8-car train operations include 220 expansion rail cars, continued upgrades to traction power systems, installing new power cables and activities to add capacity at rail yards.