WMATA Provides Updates on FY25 Budget Deficit
At our Board meeting in May, WMATA’s General Manager and CEO, Randy Clarke, presented an overview of Metro’s operating and financial situation. At that time, reliability and services were improving and ridership was increasing though not yet to pre-pandemic levels. The General Manager also indicated the agency was forecasting a significant funding gap of $750 million for FY25 due to a variety of factors.
Last week, management presented an updated financial picture along with potential remedies to help reduce the FY25 budget deficit.
We are encouraged by management’s commitment to realizing internal cost savings and efficiencies. The nearly $100 million in one-time savings plus roughly $600 million in other reductions over the next 10 years is a good start and we expect that WMATA’s management and Board will continue working to identify additional improvements.
However, a proposal to utilize capital funds to reduce the operating deficit is not desirable though might unfortunately be necessary. The structural problems that have impaired WMATA since its inception must be addressed to find a sustainable long-term solution.
The Board of Trade will continue to work alongside the region’s elected and appointed officials, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the MetroNow Coalition, and other business and regional organizations to ensure WMATA is able to meet the region’s transit needs while operating effectively, efficiently, and safely.
Metro services are critical to our region’s economy and quality of life; even more so as the region continues to change and grow. We must consider this an opportunity to think longer-term to create an integrated mobility system for all residents, businesses, and communities.
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