[Archived] Alexandria City Council Approves Metro Matters Funding Agreement

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

For Immediate Release
September 29, 2004
PIO 231-04/rdo

Alexandria City Council Approves Metro Matters Funding Agreement
City to Provide $40.7 Million in Funding Over the Next Six Years

The Alexandria City Council last night (Sept. 28) approved the Metro Matters Funding Agreement. This agreement will be combined with a prior Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) six-year capital plan (FY 2005 to FY 2010) and will provide $40.7 million in City funds to support the planned $3.2 billion Metrobus and Metrorail program. Other jurisdictions expected to sign the agreement are the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland on behalf of Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and the City of Falls Church.

The agreement will provide funding needed to implement the Metro Matters Program. The Metro Matters Program has four elements: an Infrastructure Renewal Program (IRP) aims to keep the existing WMATA facilities and vehicles in a state of good repair through capital investment renewal; a Rail Car Program will seek to improve Metrorail performance by purchasing 120 rail cars in order to add eight-car trains to some overcrowded Metrorail lines and support further ridership growth; the Bus Program aims to relieve overcrowding and support future bus ridership growth; and the Security Program will help improve Metro's capacity to operate in an emergency as well as to prevent emergencies. The Metro Matters program is consistent with the City's approved Strategic Plan.

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