Proposed Changes

Effective on or around July 1, 2026.

Overview

WMATA is committed to maintaining the safety, reliability, and affordability of its system by investing in its assets - from rail stations, tracks, and traction power infrastructure to the vehicles, maintenance facilities, and cooling systems - and providing a better transit experience for hundreds of thousands of customers each day.

The proposed FY2027 capital budget of $2.1 billion and six-year capital improvement program of $13.5 billion (including required debt service and revenue loss from capital projects) include investment in ongoing projects, prioritized system preservation and renewal needs, and investments to provide safe and efficient service delivery informed by asset management and reliability plans.

Capital program publications detail the following:

  • Capital Program Strategy outlining the vision and goals for capital investments.
  • Six-year Capital Improvement Program investments of $13.5 billion and a FY2027 capital budget of $2.1 billion to fund priority investments constrained by affordability and delivery capacity.

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

  • Railcars and Rail Facilities: Major vehicle investments include the 8000-series railcar acquisition program. Major facilities and systems investments include rail vehicle scheduled maintenance program facility improvements and railyard state of good repair.
  • Rail Systems: Major investments include Train Control Room Rehabilitation, Track Circuit Cable Testing and Replacement, Switch Machine Replacement, Rail Power System Rehabilitation, Radio Infrastructure Replacement, and Fiber Installation.
  • Track and Structures Rehabilitation: Major investments include track rehabilitation and maintenance; tunnel ventilation demonstration and water leak mitigation demonstration on the red line; and bridge and aerial structural rehabilitation.
  • Station and Passenger Facilities: Major investments include standpipe systems and tunnel emergency egress; parking garage and surface lot rehabilitation, station entrance canopies, and elevator rehabilitations; digital signage and wayfinding, lighting, and fare payment modernization.
  • Bus, Bus Facilities, and Paratransit: Major vehicle investments include bus acquisition and rehabilitation and paratransit vehicle purchases. Major facilities investments include Northern and Bladensburg garage replacements and electrification; bus shelter replacement, customer information electronic displays, and bus priority program.
  • Operations and Business Support: Major investment include a modern training facility, computing infrastructure state of good repair; Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Replacement; Asset Management System Upgrade; service vehicle replacement; and environmental compliance.

The six-year plan includes reimbursable projects such as the Purple Line.

Financial Plan by Investment Category

Capital Investment Categories
($M)		FY2027 Proposed
Budget*		FY2028-FY2032
Plan*		Six-Year
Total*
Railcars and Railcar Facilities$372$2,013$2,385
Rail Systems$288$1,682$1,970
Track and Structure Rehabilitation$254$1,612$1,866
Stations and Passenger Facilities$327$1,253$1,580
Bus, Bus Facilities, and Paratransit$340$1,755$2,095
Operations and Business Support$282$1,123$1,405
Total Capital Investments$1,862$9,439$11,301
Revenue Loss from Capital Projects and Other Needs$22$110$130
Debt Service - Dedicated Funding$254$1,813$2,067
Total Capital Program Cost$2,137$11,361$13,498

*FY2027-FY2032 Plan capital investment category allocation subject to change as project costs and schedules are refined; columns may not sum due to rounding.

Capital Program Funding Sources

Funding Sources
($M)		FY2027 Proposed Budget*
Formula and Other Grants$517
The Passenger Rail Investment and
Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)		$144
Subtotal Federal Grants$661
District of Columbia$348
State of Maryland$322
Commonwealth of Virginia$299
Subtotal State and Local Contribution$970
Jurisdiction Reimbursable Projects$60
Debt and Other Funding Sources$284
Prior Year Funding$163
Grant Total$2,137

*FY2027 Funding Sources are estimates and may change; columns may not sum due to rounding.

WMATA's FY2027 Proposed Operating Budget (excluding reimbursables and debt service) of $2.7 billion is 5.1 percent higher than the FY2026 operating budget. At $651 million, total revenue is projected to be 15.4 percent higher than FY2026. Jurisdictional subsidies of $1.963 billion fund 72 percent of Metro's operating budget.

The FY2027 Proposed Budget service plans are designed to maximize service within available funding, while meeting growing demand. WMATA is advancing service efficiencies through bus schedule optimization, train automation, and the refinement of 6-car and 8-car trains to improve reliability and travel times. Service improvements proposed for FY2027 include targeted increases in Metrobus frequency and coverage to address crowding and on-time performance challenges; continued streamlining of the Better Bus Network informed by Year One results; and Metro Rail enhancements that increase weekday, evening, and late-night frequency and add peak-period capacity. Metro will maintain FY2026 fare levels for FY2027.

Proposed Operating Budget

($M)FY2025
Actual		FY2026
Budget		FY2027
Proposed
Total Revenue$594$564$651
Gross Expenses$2,531$2,607$2,740
Preventive Maintenance Transfer($89)($109)($126)
Net Expenses$2,442$2,498$2,614
Gross Subsidy($1,848)($1,934)($1,963)
Prior Year Savings$0$28$0
Federal Relief$123$0$0
Jurisdictional Contribution$1,753$1,906$1,963
Operating Result$28$0$0

Frequency Improvements

Reduce customer wait time with more frequent service.

RouteDayTime PeriodCurrent HeadwayProposed Headway
Frequency in minutes
A76Mon-FriMorning & afternoon rush between Ballston & Mark Center3015
C43Mon-SunNon-rush4030
C91*Mon-FriMorning & afternoon rush20-3020
Midday and
Evening		3020
Late Night4030
Sat-SunAll Day3020
Late Night4020-30
D24*Mon-SunNon-rush3020
D4XMon-FriNon-rush1210
M60Mon-Sat3:30-5:30 p.m.1210
Mon-Sun9 p.m. - 12 a.m.3020
M70Mon-Sun9-11 p.m.3020
P12Mon-FriMorning and
afternoon rush		4530
P40Mon-Fri9 p.m.- 2 a.m.15-4515-30
Sat-Sun9 p.m. - 2 a.m.5030

*Addition to Frequent Service Network

Route Enhancements and Removals

Streamline service for easier, more consistent travel on more days and times

RouteDayTime PeriodCurrent
Start-End		Proposed
Start-End		Description
C35Mon-FriNon-rushDeanwood - Fort DupontDeanwood - Naylor RdAll weekday trips to Naylor Rd
C63Mon-SunAll timesDeanwood - Washington Hospital CenterDeanwood - Georgia Av- PetworthExtend service to Georgia Av-Petworth (started 12/25/2025)
D72Mon-SunMidday,
Evening
All Day		Mt. Pleasant - Lafayette SquareMt. Pleasant or Van Ness - Lafayette SquareEvery other trip from Mt. Pleasant to Van Ness
Mon-FriLate NightMt. Pleasant - Lafayette SquareVan Ness - Lafayette SquareAll trips from Mt. Pleasant to Van Ness
M12WeekdayRush OnlyEvery other trip to Hyattsville CrossingEvery trip to Hyattsville CrossingAll trips to Hyattsville Crossing
P93All daysAll timesSuitland-BirchwoodSuitland-EastoverOperate between Suitland and Eastover, adjust P97 to serve Birchwood*

*Some reduction in service frequency and span compared to P93

Span Increases

Expand service hours and days to provide better coverage where riders need it

RouteDayCurrent
Service Span		Proposed
Service Span		Description
A49Mon-Fri5:30-9 a.m.5- 9 a.m.Begin morning peak at 5 a.m.,
afternoon peak at 3:30 p.m.
C57Mon-Fri7-9 a.m.6-9 a.m.Begin morning peak at 6 a.m.
D6XSaturday6 a.m.-11 p.m.6-12 a.m.Run until 12 a.m. (midnight) on weekends
Sunday6 a.m.-9 p.m.6-12 a.m.
Mon-Fri4 p.m.-7 p.m.3:30-7 p.m.
P97Sat-SunNo service6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.Add weekend service, improve off-peak service and reliability
FY27 Frequency Improvements
FY27 Route Enhancements and Span Increases

New Route/Service Proposals: Northern Virginia Transportation Commission I-66 Commuter Choice Grant

This grant opportunity allows Metro the chance to add service recommendations from the Better Bus Network Redesign (BBNR) Visionary Network within Northern Virginia.

Proposed
Route		DayProposed
Span		Proposed Headway
Frequency in minutes		Description
A6XMon-Fri5:15-8:15 a.m.
and
3:30-7 p.m.		20New Limited Stop service: Dunn Loring - Pentagon - Crystal City
F2XMon-Fri5:30-9 a.m.
and
3-7:15 p.m.		15New Limited Stop service: Spring Hill - Mark Center - West Alexandria

 

BBNR Visionary Network within Northern Virginia

Note: Implementation of these services is subject to completion of Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC)'s Commuter Choice Grant Review process to include approval of projects by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).

Service Frequency Changes

Orange, Silver, Blue lines: More frequent weekday service (morning, midday and evening)

Operate Orange, Silver and Blue lines every 10 minutes, an improvement from the current 12-minute headway, during the morning, midday, and evening periods on weekdays, to support off peak demand and encourage ridership growth with more frequent all-day service.

Red Line: More frequent late-night service

Operate Red Line trains every 7 to 8 minutes, improved from every 10 minutes, during the late-night period from 9:30 p.m. until closing, seven days a week, to boost capacity in both directions.

Service Pattern Changes

Orange, Silver, Blue lines: More frequent service during busy commute times

Run slightly more often than every 10-minutes in the peak travel direction between 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. To provide this added service, Metro would remove the two Silver Line short trips* that currently operate during the weekday morning and afternoon peak periods. In effect, the additional trains would be distributed across the Orange, Silver and Blue lines instead of serving only the Silver Line.

    PROPOSED FY2027 METRORAIL SERVICE LEVELS

    Train frequency displayed in minutes

    LineService PatternPeak Service
    Monday - Friday    		All-Day Service
    Monday - Friday    		Late-Night Service
    Monday - Friday    		All-Day Service
    Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays    		Late-Night Service
    Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays
    RedShady Grove
    to this
    Glenmont    		4 to 567 to 867 to 8
    GreenGreenbelt to
    Branch Av    		667 to 888
    YellowHuntington to
    Mt Vernon Sq*
    /
    to Greenbelt*    		667 to 888
    OrangeVienna to
    New Carrollton    		10***10151215
    SilverAshburn to
    Downtown Largo**
    / to
    New Carrollton**    		10***10151215
    BlueFranconia-Springfield to Downtown Largo10***101512 

    We've marked headway improvements in FY2027. Metrorail service in grayed-out boxes differentiates proposed changes from existing service frequencies.

    *Yellow Line trains alternate between terminating at Mt. Vernon Square and Greenbelt, with every other Yellow Line train operating to Greenbelt instead of terminating at Mt Vernon Sq. Frequency in the Mt. Vernon Square to Greenbelt branch is double that shown in the table.

    **Silver Line trains alternate between terminating at Downtown Largo and New Carrollton, with every other Silver Line train travelling to New Carrollton instead of Downtown Largo. Frequencies in the branches between Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton/to Downtown Largo are double those shown in the table.

    *** Metro is considering running service slightly more frequently than every 10 minutes on the Orange, Silver, and Blue lines during the peak commute hour of each weekday morning and afternoon in the peak direction of traffic. This service addition would replace the two Silver Line short trips* in the peak weekday morning and afternoon commute hours on the Silver Line.

    All-Day Service: Baseline service frequency from opening until 9:30 p.m.

    Peak Service: Increased service frequency on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

    Late-Night Service: Service frequency from 9:30 p.m. to closing.

    The FY2027 Proposed Budget maintains MetroAccess service at FY2026 levels, with no planned adjustments.

    The FY2027 Proposed Budget maintains fares at FY2026 levels, with no planned adjustments.