Maryland., Virginia Senators Team Up on Metro Funding Bill

Senators from Virginia and Maryland are pushing new legislation to ensure that the Washington, D.C.-area Metro system gets up to $200 million each year from the federal government — with some strings attached.

Virginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined Maryland Democratic Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen at a news conference Thursday to announce their measure aimed at extending federal funding over the next decade for the Washington region’s transit system.

“I think we all know as local representatives that Metro is really the federal government’s and our nation’s capital’s key transportation system,” Warner said at the Capitol South Metro station outside a U.S. House office building. “Without Metro, the gridlock that would exist, or the ability to get to this hill would be greatly diminished, and we think it’s time for our federal partners to step up.”

Metro has received $150 million per year from the federal government over the last decade for capital expenses, but that’s set to lapse this year unless Congress enacts an extension. Last year, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia all agreed to record funding levels for the transit system.

Read more: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/05/24/md-va-senators-team-up-on-metro-funding-bill/