Metro asks community for input on proposed FY26 budget

Public hearings begin Monday, February 3

The public comment period on Metro’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) has begun and the community is encouraged to take our survey and provide written comments at wmata.com/budget by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.

Customers and the general public will have four opportunities to provide feedback publicly onthe budget proposal. They are invited to participate in person, via video, or via telephone.

Below are details for each hearing date:

Monday, February 3, 2025, 6 p.m.

Metro Building at Eisenhower, 2401 Mill Road, Alexandria, VA 22314

Nearest Metro station: Eisenhower Ave (Yellow Line).

Metro staff will be available at 5:30 p.m. for an open house.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6 p.m.

Metro L’Enfant Plaza Headquarters, 300 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024

Nearest Metro station: L’Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines).

Metro staff will be available at 5:30 p.m. for an open house. 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 12 p.m.

Virtual only (via telephone or video); no open house

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 6 p.m.

Metro Building at New Carrollton, 4100 Garden City Drive, Hyattsville, MD 20785

Nearest Metro station: New Carrollton (Orange Line)

Metro staff will be available at 5:30 p.m. for an open house.  

All locations are accessible via Metrorail or Metrobus.

About the proposed FY26 budget:

The $4.9 billion capital and operating budget proposal supports Metro’s dedication to delivering a safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable customer experience.

Metro is proposing:

• Extend half of Yellow Line trains to Greenbelt
• Split Silver Line service between Downtown Largo and New Carrollton
• Additional peak service on Red and Silver lines
• Increase Weekend Hours of Operation
• Implementing the Better Bus Network redesign
• Introduce an open payment fare system, allowing taps from credit and debit cards

Additionally, Metro continues to prioritize major capital programs and maintenance projects to ensure safe and reliable transportation for our customers.

Major capital program investments to further improve service and customer experience include:

• Railcars and Rail Facilities
• Rail Systems
• Track and Structures Rehabilitation.
• Station and Passenger Facilities.
• Bus, Bus Facilities, and Paratransit.
• Operations and Business Support.

How to Participate:

In-Person:Advance registration is encouraged, though not required. To register in advance, email speak@wmata.com or call (202) 962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing. You can also register on-site.

By video:To participate via video for the Feb. 4 virtual hearing, advance registration is required. Register by emailing speak@wmata.com by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing at which you want to speak. We will send a link you can use to participate.

By phone:To participate by phone: call 646-902-9990 during the hearing and enter meeting code 734 797 690#. No advance registration is available for those participating by phone.

If you do not want to provide testimony but still want to watch or listen to the public hearings, you may watch or listen to the public hearings live at YouTube.com/MetroForward and wmata.com/budget or by calling 646-902-9990, meeting code 734 797 690#. Video of the hearings will also be archived at YouTube.com/MetroForward.

Public feedback will be provided to Metro's Board of Directors as part of the final decision-making process. If approved by the Board, changes will be implemented during the FY26 budget period, beginning in July 2025.