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Yesterday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board approved a $1.9 billion budget for fiscal-year 2009, which begins July 1.

The spending plan includes funds to operate more eight-car trains during rush hours and six-car trains during non-peak periods; improve safety; maintain track, facilities, escalators and elevators; purchase more trains and buses; and hire 28 additional police officers. By June 2009, all of WMATA’s 184 new rail cars are scheduled to be in service.

Also, after an 18-month pilot program, the board decided to continue offering Yellow Line service to the Fort Totten station during non-peak periods instead of stopping trains at the Mt. Vernon Square station. In addition, WMATA will continue to run non-peak Red Line trains to the end of the line at Shady Grovev instead of turning every other train back at the Grosvenor-Strathmore station.