The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission endorsed a multi-billion-dollar regional transit funding proposal Thursday, even as Virginia faces a $153 million shortfall in its share of the plan.
NVTC’s Resolution #2571 supports the DMVMoves initiative’s proposed $500-600 million annual funding program starting in fiscal year 2028. The plan would fund Metro infrastructure improvements and establish a regional bus priority program serving Alexandria and other jurisdictions.
The resolution comes as Virginia lawmakers work to address the funding gap through the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, created by Senate Joint Resolution 28. Alexandria City Council Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilman Canek Aguirre serve on the subcommittee, which is examining options to meet Virginia’s portion of the regional commitment.
NVTC supports the concepts developed so far by DMVMoves and encourages the task force to keep these principles in mind as it works toward final recommendations:
- Ensure the existing Metro system is safe, reliable, efficient and effective while retaining and investing in a highly skilled transit workforce.
- Reduce and manage the backlog of improvements that ensure Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess assets are in a state of good repair.
- Drive significant operating cost savings through capital investments in the Metrorail system, including automation and advanced signaling, providing long-term structural efficiencies to Metro’s operating cost profile while maximizing system safety.
- Allow Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to identify the appropriate sources to generate sufficient revenue to cover its proportional share of the Metro funding solution.
“NVTC is committed to ensuring the long-term financial viability, safety, efficiency and reliability of Metro and all of the transit agencies that serve Northern Virginia,” said David. F. Snyder, NVTC Chair. “We also want to provide predictability for the local governments that help fund Metro and look forward to working with the General Assembly next year to codify these improvements in the law.”
Under the DMVMoves framework, the funding would support Metro’s capital needs while creating new regional bus connections. For Alexandria, this could mean improved bus service linking the city to regional employment centers and better connections to Metro stations.
The commission’s action signals regional unity behind the funding concept, even as the mechanics of paying for it remain unresolved. Virginia’s $153 million gap represents a significant challenge for state lawmakers, who must find new revenue sources or reallocate existing transportation funding.
The resolution positions Northern Virginia to move forward with the regional plan once funding questions are resolved, potentially unlocking hundreds of millions in annual transit improvements that would benefit Alexandria commuters and residents.
ALXnow has reached out to both Bagley and Aguirre for comment on the funding proposal and Alexandria’s role in the regional plan.
