Following a year and a half of extensive discussion among a wide array of leaders representing the region’s governments, businesses, and community organizations, the task force overseeing the DMVMoves initiative adopted a set of recommendations today to advance its vision for seamless, integrated, and world-class transit.
The recommendations include $460 million in new, capital funding for Metro, starting in fiscal year 2028, to reinvest in the system and modernize Metrorail. The task force recommended this funding should be unencumbered and grow at three percent annually, which will allow the region to avoid another fiscal cliff like the one it is currently facing.
The task force has also identified a set of significant actions to better integrate and enhance coordination among the region’s 14 different transit operators that will improve riders’ experience and lower barriers to the use of transit. These recommendations build on work begun during the DMVMoves initiative, including identifying and implementing bus priority projects along high-priority corridors to improve bus speeds and reliability for riders and lower long-term operating costs, integrating fare policies, such as consistent discounts for low-income riders and free fares for children, and improving customer information, like standard bus stop designs.
“A lot has changed in our region since we launched this effort 18 months ago, but one thing has not – the absolutely vital role that Metro and our entire public transit network plays in our lives every day,” said DMVMoves Task Force Co-Chair and COG Board Vice Chair Charles Allen. “The plan we’ve created through DMVMoves is laser-focused on upgrading our network, so it can continue to power our economy and enhance the quality of life for every area resident and visitor for decades to come.”
“Reaching consensus on a unified transit vision is a major achievement for our region and reflects the countless hours of discussion and deliberation by area leaders,” said DMVMoves Task Force Co-Chair and Metro Board Vice Chair Paul Smedberg. “Now the more challenging work begins as we build momentum to turn these recommendations into action and deliver the seamless, integrated, world-class transit experience our region needs and deserves.”
Highlighting the opportunity to transform commuter rail into a more robust, regional rail service, the task force urged the region to support the long-range plans put forth by MARC and VRE. It also called on jurisdictions and providers to adopt common bus service guidelines to target funding and expansion where it is most needed.
The task force noted that the new funding proposed for Metro would give the system sufficient resources to create a sustainable bond program to support long-term investments and limit annual growth in the cost of service at or below three percent, providing more certainty for its funders. Metro currently lacks the resources to maintain the system’s state of good repair as its current capital funding sources have lost their purchasing power over time, and it will no longer be able to issue debt by 2029.
With additional funding and implementation of strategies like bus priority proposed by DMVMoves, Metro will be able to improve safety, reliability, and cost-efficient service, deliver faster travel times, and address core capacity issues on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory.
DMVMoves was created in May 2024 by the Boards of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Metro to create a unified vision and sustainable funding model for the region’s transit network. This unprecedented regional effort has been led by a task force of officials appointed by COG and Metro. It was also supported by two advisory groups representing government and community partners, chaired by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill and Greater Washington Board of Trade President and CEO Jack McDougle respectively.
The task force will present its report and recommendations to a joint meeting of the COG and Metro Boards on Monday, November 17 for approval before beginning regional advocacy and seeking the enactment of funding legislation by the DC Council and Maryland and Virginia state legislatures.
Visit the DMVMoves website for the archived livestream and meeting materials, including the final task force resolution.