FY2017 PROPOSED BUDGET

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
Chapter 1
Executive Summary
Metro’s proposed $3.1 billion total budget for FY2017 – including the Operating, Capital and
Reimbursable budgets – funds transit services that provide over 1.1 million trips each weekday.
The budget enables Metro to continue its vital safety and state of good repair rebuilding effort,
enhance service delivery for its customers, and constrain cost growth through effective
management.
The net operating portion of Metro’s overall budget is $1.74 billion, which provides for the
personnel, supplies, fuel and propulsion power, and services needed to operate Metrobus,
Metrorail, and MetroAccess. Funding for the operating budget comes primarily from passenger
fares and contributions from Metro’s state and local government partners.
The reimbursable portion of Metro’s overall budget is $195 million for both operating and capital,
which provides for personnel and services needed for unique projects requested on behalf of
Metro’s jurisdictions and outside partners, including the DC Circulator and support for the
construction of the Silver Line Phase II. The proposed operating reimbursable budget is $34.2
million and the capital reimbursable budget is $160.5 million.
The proposed FY2017 capital budget of $1.1 billion provides for the assets and infrastructure to
support Metrobus, Metrorail, and MetroAccess service. Funding for the capital budget comes from
federal grants, Metro’s state and local government partners, and debt. The Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) also includes an approved investment of 748 new 7000-series railcars, enough to
replace all 1000, 4000 and 5000-series cars and expand the size of the Metro fleet by 156 cars.
The additional cars support the Silver Line extension and provide an additional 28 cars that are
currently planned to be used to increase service along the Red Line.
Priorities for the FY2017 budget include business initiatives to achieve the Board’s strategic goals.
Most importantly, the proposed budget includes no fare increase, no service reductions, and no
increases in jurisdictional operating subsidy.
Budget Highlights:
• The $1.7 billion operating budget is funded with passenger fares and parking (48 percent),
State and Local Government subsidy contributions (49 percent) and other revenue sources
(three percent). The Operating budget supports Metrobus, Metrorail, and MetroAccess
operations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia
• The Operating budget represents a $79 million or 4.3 percent decrease over FY2016 levels.
The majority of the decrease is due to reduced spending support in the operating budget for
FTA eligible preventive maintenance and heavy rail overhaul labor and parts expense. These
activities are continuing, but are proposed to now be funded as part of the CIP. The decrease
is partially offset by contractually obligated wage adjustments as well as an increase in the
paratransit contract
• Metro will expend approximately $1.7 million in the current year (FY2016) operating budget
to begin addressing FTA’s Safety Management Inspection (SMI) requirements. This amount
I-12