Coalition for Smarter Growth: “Don’t let Governor Youngkin slash key funding for Metro!”

Thanks to the leadership of Randy Clarke and the hard work of WMATA’s workforce, Metro is on a roll with reliable, high-frequency service. Ridership is returning.

But Governor Youngkin just proposed to slash key Metro funding, which would have dire consequences for Metro service: big service cuts and even higher fare hikes. Please email your state Senator and Delegates to reject the Governor’s amendment!

In their budget, the General Assembly approved $65 million in additional funding for WMATA in Fiscal Year 2025 (starting July 1) and $87 million for FY26, to be matched 50/50 by Northern Virginia localities. These additional funds were the minimum needed to help close WMATA’s operating funding gap and are necessary to match commitments by DC and Maryland.

But, in one of his over 200 budget amendments, Governor Youngkin slashed the needed funding by 76% – to nothing in FY25 and just $35 million in FY26. 

Failure to provide additional Virginia state funding would mean massive service cuts and fare hikes at Metro, higher transportation costs for workers, and more congestion on the roads.

Metro-generated economic activity provides $1 billion per year in tax revenue to the state (NVTC analysis). So, it shouldn’t be a question for the state to provide another $65 million this year and $87 million next year to support Metro. Especially when they threw over $400 million last year into widening a few miles of I-64 east of Richmond and are giving $90 million to subsidize roads and other infrastructure for corporate warehouses around the state.

Thank you for taking action on this important issue!

Stewart Schwartz

Executive Director

Coalition for Smarter Growth