Congresswoman Comstock Pushes Congress to Pay Its Full Share of Metro Funding

Close, but not close enough: Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10th) said Wednesday that while she appreciates Congress’ efforts, she’d rather see Metro get its annual $150 million from Congress.

A hearing was held on Capitol Hill today about the funding; it comes on the tail of a safety scare at Rosslyn Metro Monday that left thousands of Northern Virginians wandering the streets trying to get to work.

An Alexandria mom on her way home lost her life in January after smoke filled a Metro tunnel.

Last month, Comstock and other lawmakers found out that Congress was hoping to cut the funding in half, to $75 million. Today, an amendment was offered to increase that to $100 million.

Virginia Congressman Scott Rigell (R-2nd) offered an amendment to boost that amount, that passed in the House Appropriations Committee to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill for FY2016.

The amendment passed the committee by voice vote and adds $25 million to the $75 million currently appropriated by the Appropriation’s Sub-Committee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for a total of $100 million.

Here’s what Comstock had to say about it:

“I appreciate Congressman Rigell’s efforts in working with us to get more funding for Metro. Since 2009, under a partnership created by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Congress has continuously fulfilled its annual commitment of $150 million in funding toward WMATA.

While Congressman Rigell’s amendment brings us closer to the $150 million benchmark, I will continue to work with my colleagues as this process moves along to make sure Congress meets its full $150 million obligation.

The $150 million federal funding that has been provided since 2009 is matched with $50 million each by Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC for a total of $300 million. If federal funding falls short of the $150 million, then the matching contributions would be at risk. Metro needs these important funds for capital improvements that will address important safety concerns and help buy new Metro rail cars that will keep my constituents safe.”