NVTC publishes recommendations for WMATA as agency recovers from pandemic

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) released its 2021 Report on the Performance and Condition of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). 

The report includes key recommendations to leverage federal pandemic relief aid and communicate and encourage a safe return to public transit.  

This year’s report includes 18 recommended strategies for WMATA to become more financially sustainable and a more effective transit system and mobility provider. Each of these strategies are framed through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an understanding that altered travel patterns will likely linger in the years ahead. 

NVTC’s 2021 recommendations to WMATA include: 

• Leverage federal coronavirus relief aid to prevent layoffs, sustain and improve service levels throughout a multi-year recovery period and position WMATA for a sustainable long-term ridership and revenue recovery. 
• Communicate and encourage a safe return to transit by highlighting and promoting enhanced safety efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and developing a long-term, post-pandemic marketing and communications strategy to rebuild ridership. 
• Implement fare and parking policy changes that improve revenue and ridership, remove barriers to access and retain newly returning riders 
• Adapt rail service to anticipate demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and the region’s subsequent recovery period while maintaining an equitable, baseline level of service across all Metrorail lines. 
• Continue focus on ongoing initiatives to reduce the growth in operating costs and improve operational efficiencies using NVTC’s previously recommended strategies in past annual reports on the performance and condition of WMATA. 

Major capital accomplishments 

The report also notes that WMATA's FY 2021 Capital program was the largest in history. Dedicated capital funding has allowed WMATA to continue its aggressive ramp up and delivery of capital projects to address long overdue state of good repair needs. 

Platform rehabilitation program nearly complete: The four-year project to rebuild 20 outdoor Metrorail station platforms is nearly complete. Major construction work at Arlington Cemetery and Addison Road stations concluded in the summer with 17 stations completed in total by the fall of 2021. 

Metrorail and Metrobus fleet reliability were at an all-time high: Prior to the October 2021 Blue Line derailment, Metrorail and Metrobus saw their highest fleet reliability performance in FY 2021, mainly due to the state of good repair program. 

Mobile App and new fare technology introduced across the system: WMATA expanded its mobile app to include Android and began installing new faregates at rail stations in FY 2021. 

This is the fourth annual report in response to NVTC’s responsibilities for WMATA oversight as established in the Code of Virginia.