Notes: Metro funding in peril in State Senate budget

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

⛅ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Tomorrow also looks sunny, with a high near 50.

🚨 You need to know

In addition to stifling the Potomac Yard arena plans, Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) has also stripped additional Metro funding from the State Senate’s proposed budget, the Washington Post reported.

The Washington Post reported that Lucas acknowledged Northern Virginia’s state senators would be unhappy about that, but said “it’s a new day in the commonwealth.”

Lucas said Metro has handled finances poorly and needs reform before it gains additional funding. WMATA currently faces a budget shortfall of $750 million.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin had signaled earlier that he’d be open to an increase in Metro funding tied to the new arena, but Lucas — chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee — eliminated that from the Senate budget as well.

Debates will likely continue back and forth over the Potomac Yard arena and Metro funding until the legislative session adjourns on March 9.

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