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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Presentation to theNational Capital Region Transportation Planning Board

September 21, 2005

Dedicated Funding for the

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Secure, Reliable Secure, Reliable FundingFunding

Brookings Institution Report in June 2004 identified need for dedicated, long term funding Currently, WMATA is the only transit system in the nation without a substantial dedicated funding source

WMATA’s ability to be successful in the future is dependent upon a reliable and adequate source of dedicated funding

DEDICATED FUNDING

CAPITAL FUNDINGNATIONAL AVERAGE 52%METRO 0

OPERATIONAL FUNDINGNATIONAL AVERAGE 33%METRO 2%

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Blue Ribbon Panel• Sponsored by Council of Governments, Board

of Trade, Federal City Council

• Panel issued a report in January 2005

• “Metro is exceeding beyond expectations – yet literally falling apart”

• $300 million annual shortfall – operating/capital:– 50% - state/local dedicated funding– 50% - New federal funding

• Panel assumed 5.3% growth in state/local funding, modest fare increases, and excluded Metro Access funding requirements

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Metro’s Twin Challenges

Growing Pains and Aging Pains

Metro’s ridership is growing. Thirty-seven percent growth in past eight years (FY1997-2005)

Metro’s infrastructure is aging. Sixty percent of Metrorail is

20 years or age or older. Average age of Metrobus fleet is 10.1 years*

* WMATA BMNT Bus Fleet Profile, August 16, 2005 based on 1473 active fleet buses

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Metropolitan Growth2003 CLRP (2004-2030)

•The region is forecasted to grow by 1.13 million people by 2030 – 23% increase

•The region is forecasted to grow by 1.1 million jobs by 2030 – 34% increase

•Transit work trips are forecasted to increase by 30%, creating even more crowding

• Current CLRP applies a transit ridership constraint to and through the core area in its air quality conformity analysis

• Congestion on the entire regional surface transportation network is growing:

- Third-most congested region in the country**

- 145.5 million hours of congestion annually, but it would be even worse: 59.5 million hours of delay are saved because of public transit**

- Those 145.5 hours cost the region $2.46 billion annually, but without public transportation, the region would incur another $998 million in congestion costs annually**

** 2005 Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute, May 2005.

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Prioritizing Capital Plans• $12.2B, 10- year (FY04-13) Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

• $6B of system expansion

• $6.2B of unfunded need for refurbishment and capacity improvements

• $3.3B funded through “Metro Matters” Funding Agreement

Minus

Equals

Minus

Beyond six year Metro Matters horizon, $2.9B in basic capital needs remain unfunded

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Short-term relief is on the Way Metro Matters Funding Agreement, signed October 2004, provides interim short term relief

Addresses approximately $500 million in capital deferrals

Provides for additional bus and rail capacity to help relieve overcrowding and support short-term growth

122 additional rail cars (33% eight-car trains) 185 additional buses, facilities and improvements

The funding program buys us about four more years of relief, whereupon the problem will materialize again; new funding agreement needed in 2008 to have new funding starting in 2010

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

H.R. 3496• Introduced by Rep. Tom Davis and area Members

of Congress• Authorizes $1.5 billion over 10 years in federal funds

for capital funding only • Does not cover operating needs• Federal funding contingent on amending WMATA Compact

to:– Provide for state/local dedicated funding– WMATA Inspector General to report to Board– 2 federal appointees to WMATA Board

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

H.R. 3496 – What does it buy?Supports ridership growth beyond 2020

340 new rail cars(100% 8-car trains)

Continued system rehabilitation

Pedestrian and bicycle improvements

275 new buses & 3 garages

More elevators,More escalators, &Bigger mezzaninesat congested stations

AND MORE…

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

• Critical that the region focus on the need for dedicated funding and follow up on federal legislative initiative

• Regional summit on Metro’s funding needs on October 3, 2005

• Summit is co-sponsored by Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Greater Washington Board of Trade and Federal City Council

• Focus on achieving consensus among funding partners on scope and source of funding initiatives and response to federal legislation

• Compact amendment process in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia

Action Needed -- Next Steps

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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityWe need a strong recommitmentof the federal/regional partnership

that created Metro

• Brookings and Blue Ribbon Panel reports have laid the groundwork

• Proposed federal legislation, if approved, would provide separate funding for Metro

• Dedicated funding commitments and approval of Compact amendments needed in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia

• Time is now to proceed on establishing a renewed funding partnership and a dedicated funding source for WMATA