WASHINGTON, D.C.—The DMVMoves task force, assembled to address ongoing public transit challenges and funding issues for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), is zeroing in on possible solutions for the region’s future transportation needs.
During their latest meeting, task force members debated funding priorities and discussed four proposed transit scenarios designed to maintain, improve, and expand public transportation systems over the next decade.
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Phyllis Randall described the session as “the best DMVMoves meeting we’ve had so far.”
The Four Scenarios
The group reviewed four progressive scenarios:
- Maintain Service Levels: Funding would cover current service and infrastructure without enhancements.
- Enhance Existing Assets: Expanding services within existing infrastructure, such as running off-peak buses more frequently.
- Maximized Service and Modern Assets: A significant investment to modernize infrastructure and optimize service.
- Expansion: Expanding the region’s transit system beyond current infrastructure, providing major long-term benefits.
Task force members generally agreed that Scenario 1—maintaining the status quo—should be eliminated as it fails to provide increased service or future improvements. Many expressed Scenario 2 as the baseline for recommendations, though others argued even that would fall short of addressing regional needs.
Push for Expansion
Task force member Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) emphasized the importance of Scenario 4—system expansion—as the only viable solution to avoid worsening traffic congestion and its negative impact on economic growth.
“Four is the objective—getting the system expanded. The people I represent, that’s what they would like to see,” Surovell said. “Every time I look, we widen roads and they fill right up with cars as soon as we widen them. All I see is the land around here getting more and more expensive and it getting harder and harder to justify widening roads.”
WMATA Principal Director Sarah Kline echoed Surovell’s stance, calling Scenario 3 the minimum the region should aim for and firmly dismissing Scenario 1.
“If I look at Scenario 1, I don’t see any difference from what we have today. It does not include more service,” Kline said.
Funding Options: Regional vs. Local Solutions
The task force also considered how to fund the necessary investments, debating whether a uniform regional revenue source or jurisdiction-specific solutions would work best.
While a regional funding source may present better to the public, members acknowledged it would be challenging to achieve politically. A blended approach could prove more feasible.
“Do we keep both of these on the table? I think the answer is yes, because it may be a combination of both of them,” said Kate Stewart, Montgomery County Council Vice President.
Jeffrey McKay, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, suggested jurisdictions should have flexibility within a broader funding framework, including variable sales tax rates to match projected contributions.
Priorities for Near- and Mid-Term Goals
As the group explored long-term goals, including fully automated Metrorail systems, eight-car trains, and zero-emission buses, several members stressed the importance of expanding bus rapid transit (BRT) systems and reducing redundancy among the region’s more than a dozen separate bus providers.
Clark Mercer, executive director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, encouraged members to envision a unified regional bus system.
“We do have an opportunity to make sure that we don’t have 13 different BRT providers five, 10 years from now,” Mercer said.
He challenged the task force to develop a vision for what a “truly regional bus system could look like” in future discussions.
Looking Ahead
The DMVMoves task force will continue refining its recommendations, focusing on prioritizing Scenarios 3 and 4 to ensure the transit system meets the region’s growing needs while addressing economic and environmental challenges.
