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Yesterday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s board approved a $2.5 billion budget for fiscal-year 2013, which begins July 1.

The $1.6 billion operating budget includes funds to expand rush-hour rail service, add police officers, improve escalator preventative maintenance, advance a worker fatigue management program, conduct work to comply with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations and prepare for the start of Silver Line service in late 2013.

The $1 billion capital budget supports Metro Forward, a plan to improve safety and reliability through projects such as track and track component replacements, tunnel and infrastructure repairs, station and facility upgrades, elevator and escalator replacements and rehabilitations, and new rail-car purchases.

In addition, the board approved a six-year, $5.7 billion capital improvement plan, which will cover fiscal years 2013 through 2018. The program calls for completing work to comply with NTSB recommendations, such as replacing track circuits and the oldest rail cars, replacing 88 escalators throughout the system and implementing a new electronic payment program.