Metro to seek federal money during congressional hearing

WASHINGTON — Metro leaders will face a congressional oversight committee on Wednesday that will focus on the agency’s safety problems and its plan to turn things around.

The hearing, before the subcommittees that oversee the District, is expected to center on last month’s emergency shutdown following recent smoke and fire incidents in Metro tunnels.

Evans’ prepared testimony indicates he will focus on the need for more money for Metro and reiterate his opposition to raising fares.

Evans says Metro needs roughly $25 billion over the next 10 years to run the system, address the critical safety issues identified by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Transit Administration, and catch up on deferred maintenance.

The agency also faces a $2.5 billion unfunded pension liability that it has no plan or ability to address.

Evans wants the federal government, which has contributed to a capital construction budget that has not been fully used for years, to also contribute money to the operating budget, as the region’s governments do.

He also acknowledges that the plans are still being developed for a trackwork overhaul, which could lead to stretches of track being shut down for more extended periods than riders have seen in the past.

“I’ve put the region on notice, that we need to come together to create a dedicated funding source for Metro that produces approximately $1 billion per year,” Evans wrote. “Whether it’s a sales tax, property tax near Metro stations, gas tax, or a mix, a dedicated funding source is something that should have been set up before a single piece of track was laid.”

For fiscal 2018, WMATA will face an operating budget shortfall of roughly $150 million.

If there’s no dedicated funding, Evans continued, “Metro will remain a system that’s maybe safe, somewhat reliable, and mediocre, instead of the world-class system that the national capital region deserves.”