Trump budget reportedly cuts $150M in WMATA funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post reports the Trump Administration plans to omit a critical $150 million Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) grant from its upcoming budget, contending the 10-year capital program has ended despite the transit agency’s expectation that there is one installment remaining in the $1.5 billion fund.

Federal officials argue the decade-long program in the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act expired with the fiscal year that began in July 2017, even though that interpretation leaves WMATA with $150 million less than pledged under the bill. The money has been used to purchase new railcars, pay for track upgrades, and replace aging equipment.

If confirmed, the administration’s position would reinforce concerns that the Trump Administration is hostile to funding mass transit despite its proclaimed interest in investing in infrastructure, according to the report. For the full story, click here.