Real Estate Development

For unsolicited development proposals, please see here.

Officials break ground on the West Falls Church development

Metro collaborates with developers to build housing, office, retail, and other amenities on Metro property, typically via ground lease, through a program known as Joint Development.

The development projects are a form of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and support local economic development and Metro ridership. All joint development activities are managed in accordance with Metro Board-approved guidelines (see section below) and must meet the following criteria:

  • Maintains or enhances transit ridership, safety and/or access
  • Maintains or enhances WMATA's ability to operate transit services and/or maintain the transit system
  • Has a positive net fiscal impact for WMATA
  • Is consistent with or enhances local land use and economic development plans
  • Complies with the FTA Guidelines
Train arriving at New Carrollton station with new development in the background

10-Year Strategic Plan

In April 2022, Metro published a 10-Year Strategic Plan for Joint Development, which calculated the fiscal and economic impact of Metro joint development projects, identified strategies to accelerate joint development, prioritized stations for future joint development, and set a goal of 20 new joint development agreements by 2032.

In June 2025, Metro released a progress report and other resources to highlight key accomplishments since 2022, update fiscal impact figures, illustrate how new strategies have helped overcome challenges, and update development priorities. The report is complemented by a work plan and a new GIS-based development tracker.

Development Tracker

Metro has the most successful joint development program in the nation, with 59 projects completed at 32 Metro stations across the greater Washington region. These projects have resulted in 5.7 million square feet of office development, 1.3 million square feet of retail development, and 10,800 housing units, contributing $220 million in annual local/state tax revenue. Additional future development could add over 29 million square feet across 41 Metro stations and generate $300 million more in annual local/state tax revenue.

Project Cycle

Project lifecycle

The joint development project cycle begins by evaluating a site's needs, development potential, value, feasibility, as well as financial, technical, and other challenges. A key step in the process is confirming potential adjustments to transit facilities, which are subject to Metro Board approval following a Compact Public Hearing.

Metro engages the private sector in joint development through a public solicitation process. A Joint Development Solicitation details the opportunity, site information and infrastructure requirements for prospective development partners (current opportunities are listed on the left side of this page). Upon selection of a development partner, Metro and the developer negotiate and execute a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) that is approved by the Metro Board and FTA. The development partner leads entitlement, financing, and construction of the project in accordance with the requirements of the JDA.

Past Joint Development public hearings

Guidelines

Joint Development Policies (April 2018)

Joint Development Program Guidelines (December 2022)

  • Process and criteria by which joint development projects are offered, evaluated, and approved

Station Area Planning Guidelines (October 2017)

  • Provides instruction for determining the layout, configuration, and capacity of transit facilities and multi-modal access at Metro Rail stations

FTA Joint Development Circular (January 2024)

  • Guidance on how FTA-funded real property can be used for joint development