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2024 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Floor Approved)

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WMATA Budget Increases and Reporting (language only)

Item 433 #1s

Item 433 #1s

Transportation
Department of Rail and Public Transportation

Language

Page 484, strike lines 24 through 46.

Page 484, after line 46, insert:

"G.1. Not withstanding the provisions of § 33.2-1526.1, Code of Virginia, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the total operating assistance in the approved Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) budget may increase by more than three percent from the total operation assistance in the prior year's approved WMATA budget to provide for costs in fiscal 2025 and fiscal year 2026, provided that the Department has determined that WMATA has met the capital improvement planning and strategic plan adoption requirements of § 33.2-1526.1, Code of Virginia, and any other planning and reporting requirements of this Act."


2. The Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall require WMATA to prepare and submit a corrective action plan including information as prescribed by the Director no later than November 30, 2024.  The corrective action plan shall be submitted to the Director, Secretary of Transportation, and Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.


3. The corrective action plan shall include, at a minimum, (i) measures the Authority will take to reduce both its total costs and overhead costs, defined as general administration and non-vehicle maintenance costs, on a per vehicle-revenue-mile basis for both rail and bus service to at least the median of the largest agencies providing service in the cities of Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC; (ii) measures the Authority will take to size employee headcount relative to ridership and vehicle-revenue miles to the median of the above systems; and (iii) a detailed timeline providing for the automation of the Metrorail system, including expected timelines for achieving grade-of-automation levels three and four as defined by the International Public Transit Association."



Explanation

(This amendment provides an exemption from the provisions of Virginia Code § 33.2-1526.1 (K) that limits annual Virginia operating assistance to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to no more than three percent over the prior year's approved budget provided that planning and reporting requirements are met. The language outlines cost control elements to be included in a corrective action plan to address WMATA budget imbalances.)