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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) board recently approved a $5 billion, six-year capital spending plan and a $1.4 billion operating budget for fiscal-year 2011.

Increased contributions from the jurisdictions that fund WMATA, federal stimulus dollars, and federal and local matching funds provided by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 helped boost the capital budget, WMATA officials said in a prepared statement.

The agency is budgeting $1 billion for capital investments in FY2011 — the largest amount WMATA has appropriated since the construction of the original Metrorail system, according to the agency.

The capital budget focuses on safety and maintaining a state of good repair on WMATA’s trains, buses, infrastructure and facilities. Planned projects will address the need to replace, upgrade or rehabilitate old or outdated vehicles, facilities, track and customer amenities.

“The cornerstone of the program includes the replacement of Metro’s oldest rail cars, the 1000 series cars, which addresses a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board,” said WMATA Chairman Peter Benjamin.

Over the next six years, WMATA also will replace and rehabilitate portions of the Metrorail system between Dupont Circle and Silver Spring, and between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations.

The $1.4 billion operating budget reflects higher contributions from local jurisdictions, the borrowing of some capital funds for preventative maintenance and a fare increase.

The budget, which takes effect July 1, includes a strong focus on safety, said WMATA General Manager Richard Sarles.