Plans for an increase in Metro funding could be in peril as part of the battle over the new Potomac Yard arena.
This weekend, Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, stripped additional Metro funding from the State Senate’s proposed budget, the Washington Post reported.
Lucas said Metro has “not done a good job of managing their resources” and called for more reform within the transit organization before Virginia would increase its funding. It’s a position that ironically mirrors Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s before the Potomac Yard arena announcement. Since then, Youngkin has said he would be more amenable to increased funding to Metro — which currently faces a $750 million shortfall.
Metro leadership previously said the shortfall could lead to 67 bus routes being cut, 2,300 layoffs, and 10 closed Metro stations — including the Potomac Yard Metro station.
Metro General Manager Randy Clarke and Paul Smedberg, former Alexandria City Council member and Chairman of the WMATA Board of Directors, shared a picture earlier today of a meeting with Lucas and said they were continuing to engage in discussions about Metro.
Thx you @SenLouiseLucas for spending time with the @wmata team discussing the value Metro brings to Virginia. Appreciate you wanting to discuss the #wmata longterm funding model so we can be even more effective getting people to jobs, healthcare & education opportunities. pic.twitter.com/92q8gzhAMs
— Randy Clarke (@wmataGM) February 20, 2024
The deadline for a budget is — generally — the adjourning of the legislative session on March 9.