Metro Revises FY26 Budget Proposal and FY27 Forecast to Reflect Strong Ridership Growth, Increased Revenue

Metro Revises FY26 Budget Proposal and FY27 Forecast to Reflect Strong Ridership Growth, Increased Revenue

Metro is pleased to announce the release of the revised FY26 proposed budget, reflecting a positive trend in ridership and revenue that underscores the authority’s service reliability and recovery.

Metro has seen 46 consecutive months of ridership growth, as of February 2025, with year-over-year gains driving higher-than-expected revenue. As more people choose to ride Metro, passenger revenue projections for FY26 have grown from $444 million to $464 million, an increase of $20 million. The projected passenger revenue for FY27 is also up $29 million. The increase also highlights the effectiveness and reliability of the services provided by Metro and how we are an integral part of supporting commuters and the community In addition to increased revenues, Metro continues its cost management strategies driving savings in both the Capital and Operating budgets and leveraging those savings towards continued investments in service and infrastructure.

The increase in ridership is partially influenced by commuters returning to the office, contributing to new highs in rush hour ridership. As revenue goes up, the need to transfer funds from the Capital budget to the Operating budget has decreased, allowing Metro to preserve capacity for essential capital work while bolstering the operating budget.

Looking ahead, Metro is committed to improving the efficiency of its operations, including reducing management overhead and completing major construction projects at lower costs, all of which contribute to improved service reliability and the strengthening of Metro’s system reliability.

“We are excited to see ridership returning and revenue increasing, which allows Metro to prudently invest in services and infrastructure where most needed,” said WMATA Board Chair Valerie Santos. “These revisions to the budget reflect a commitment to providing reliable and efficient transit options for our community while ensuring the authority remains fiscally responsible.”

To view the proposed budget, click here.