WMATA $4.8B budget maintains service, avoids drastic cuts

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) board has approved a $4.8 billion capital and operating budget for fiscal-year 2025 that largely maintains bus and rail service levels when the new budget year begins July 1.

All three jurisdictions served by WMATA — the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia — each provided hundreds of millions of dollars of additional funding to help meet the fiscal year 2025 budget gap, WMATA officials said in a news release.

Last year, WMATA faced significant cuts to service due to a $750 million budget gap. Going forward, a 12.5% fare increase will keep ticket prices in line with inflation, WMATA officials said.

"We appreciate the collaboration of our regional partners on this board-approved budget that will keep our community moving," said WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke.

The $2.3 billion capital budget allocates funds for purchasing 256 new 8000-series rail cars, investing in more electric buses, replacing aging bus garages, maintaining track and vehicles,and working toward a modern automated train control signaling system.

Meanwhile, the WMATA board also appointed Michelle Zamarin as inspector general. She will serve a three-year term. Zamarin currently serves as litigation counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission.