On March 24, area officials on the DMVMoves Task Force gathered to receive updated information on the funding outlook for Metro and local transit systems and discuss a new proposal to manage Metro’s State of Good Repair maintenance program and make targeted investments to deliver more service, more efficiently for the region.
Task Force Co-chairs Charles Allen and Paul Smedberg kicked off the meeting by calling attention to the changes that have taken place in the region and nation since the group last met in December. They noted that as area leaders plan for the future, ensuring a reliable, safe, and more seamless transit network is all the more important to advance the region’s shared goals.
Metro staff shared the positive news with officials that the system had now closed the operating budget deficit of $140 million a year that was initially projected when DMVMoves began last June. They said the improved financial picture was due to increased ridership and revenue as well as the implementation of cost efficiencies informed by the work of DMVMoves over the past several months. While the operating budget issue has now been resolved, staff pointed out that Metro still faces a fiscal cliff for its capital budget, which maintains the system, beginning in Fiscal Year 2028.
To address the capital budget, the Task Force was presented with a new concept aiming to create a more manageable and cost-effective approach to funding the system’s maintenance. Rather than attempting to eliminate the full backlog of maintenance projects, which was considered by the Task Force in the fall, staff offered a revised proposal that would allow Metro to get to a place where it could reasonably sustain a reliable, high performing system. Experts noted that other transportation agencies are able to meet their maintenance needs without fully eliminating their backlog of maintenance projects, which can be cost prohibitive.
In addition, the proposal included new targeted investments to modernize both Metrorail and Metrobus. On the rail side, the concept proposed rail automation to replace Metro’s antiquated signaling system, which has the potential to dramatically improve service. Staff said automation is the global standard, delivering the highest on-time performance, reduced operating costs, and the ability to run the same level of service with fewer trains or run more service with the same resources. The proposal did not recommend rail extensions, which aligns with the feedback from the majority of Task Force members throughout the DMVMoves initiative.
The concept also included a regional bus priority program featuring a network of high-frequency routes to provide fast, reliable service. Staff highlighted examples in the region showing the various benefits of bus lanes. In the District of Columbia, bus lanes have improved travel times and reliability, while crashes have decreased by double digit percentages, such as 28 percent fewer accidents on 16th Street. In Montgomery County, bus lanes on Georgia Avenue are moving 900 more people per hour.
The Task Force is working toward developing policy recommendations and a final plan later this year. At its next meeting in May, members will discuss funding sources to finance these modernization efforts. The Task Force will also receive updates from DMVMoves Working Groups on their action plans to enhance customer experience and cost savings through collaboration on fare policies, joint procurements, and other opportunities.
For the archived livestream and presentation from the March 2025 meeting as well as additional information on the initiative, visit www.dmvmoves.org.