Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Contact: Mary Curtius 703-228-7943 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington Approves $121.6 Million for Metro Capital Improvements
- County funding 8 percent of $4.95 billion, six-year plan
- Safety, performance, key customer demands addressed
- Amount to be funded through bonds, state aid
ARLINGTON, VA – The Arlington County Board committed to funding $121.6 million of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s six-year Capital Improvement Plan.
“Once again, Arlington has demonstrated its strong, unwavering support for Metro as vital to transportation and development here and across the region,” said Board Chairman Jay Fisette. “This new agreement funds critical infrastructure projects that will help ensure Metro provides safe, efficient, rider-friendly service for years to come.”
Arlington is one of the first jurisdictions to act on the Capital Funding Agreement, which includes significant changes to the prior Metro Matters agreement:
- Jurisdictional funding requirements will be based on project cash flow needs. (Under the previous agreement, annual contributions from jurisdictions were fixed and not updated to reflect Metro’s actual performance in implementing projects.)
- More detailed and frequent capital project reporting. (Metro will provide quarterly reports on financial and project implementation).
Arlington’s contribution includes $85 million in new funds, and the rest in funding already secured through prior bond authorization and existing state aid.
At least eight jurisdictions, including WMATA, will be asked to execute the agreement. Each jurisdiction’s allocation is based on a formula determined for each type of transit (for example: rail projects are allocated based on the number of rail stations in a jurisdiction, population and weekly ridership). Arlington County’s share will range from $13 million to $18 million annually in FY 2011-FY2014.
“Tonight, Arlington reaffirmed the commitment it first made to Metro nearly four decades ago,” said Board Vice Chairman and Metro Board Member Chris Zimmerman. “We recognize today, as Arlingtonians did back then, that Metro is vital for Arlington and the entire region. We’ve taken an important first step toward meeting Metro’s most urgent needs; but more must still be done. Funding for Metro is the most important priority for the National Capital Region.”
The six-year CIP addresses Metro’s most pressing needs, but given growth in the region and the system’s overall age, significant needs remain.
The Board vote to authorize Chairman Fisette to execute the agreement was 5-0.
Background
An extensive strategic capital planning process by WMATA recently culminated in its Capital Needs Inventory, which identified more than $11 billion in needs from Fiscal Year 2011 through Fiscal Year 2020. Using that as a starting base, Metro has developed a six-year, $4.9 billion CIP that is based on the following priorities:
- Keeping safety a top focus
- Delivering critical performance/safety projects
- Meeting key customer demand needs
Jurisdictional execution of the capital funding agreement helps Metro execute large multi-year contracts for long delivery items such as rail cars.
Read the staff report and the Capital Funding Agreement.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.