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Regional transit agencies brief committee, warn of capital shortfall and outline modernization plans
Summary
WMATA and the Maryland Transit Administration described ridership gains, safety improvements and major capital projects — and urged coordinated funding as WMATA’s 2018 bond capacity runs out in FY2029. MTA detailed a $1.4 billion light‑rail modernization program and Purple Line progress.
Charlie Scott, acting vice president of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, told the Environment and Transportation Committee that Metro has recovered significant ridership and safety performance but faces a looming capital shortfall unless state and regional partners act.
Scott highlighted industry recognition and usage figures, saying the system averaged nearly 469,000 weekday trips systemwide last year and that rail ridership in Maryland reached about 65,000 daily trips in December 2025. He credited service and safety work with major improvements, including a reported 82% reduction in fare evasion on rail and the return to automatic train operation on all lines for the first time since 2009.
Scott warned that Metro’s current capital program depends on bonding capacity created…
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