Northern Virginia's Transit Network Generates $1.5B in Annual Revenue

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission released "The Value of Northern Virginia Transit to the Commonwealth" study which found that Northern Virginia’s transit network generates $1.5 billion in annual personal income and sales tax revenue for Virginia.

The study estimates that at least $1 billion can be attributed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Metrorail system.

Building Off the Past

This study builds off the results from NVTC’s similar study in 2018, which found the impact of Metrorail and the Virginia Railway Express to the Commonwealth was $600 million per year, by assessing the impact of all transit modes and employment effects in Northern Virginia.

The current study finds that every dollar Virginia invests in transit generates an additional $1.60 in statewide revenues that can be spent on other programs, a 160% return on investment. 

“NVTC's 'Value of Northern Virginia's Transit Network to the Commonwealth Study' attests to the unparalleled importance of Metro, Virginia Railway Express and our six bus systems to the economic growth and prosperity of all of Virginia," said NVTC Chair Dalia Palchik. "It makes up nearly 5% of general fund revenues, bringing a strong return on investment for all Virginians, no matter where they live."

Additional Benefits of Transit

Northern Virginia's transit network enables our region, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, to support an additional 128,000 households and 311,000 jobs.

It also provides other health, safety, and economic benefits:

• Saving commuters $130 million each year in vehicle operating costs
• Preventing more than 400 serious vehicle crash injuries
• Avoiding 80,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions