20040210 r-04-4 Resolution No. R-04-04
Urgin~ the Congress of the United States and the Federal Executive Branch
to Undertake a Renewed Funding Commitment
to Meet WMATA's Critical Funding Needs
WHEREAS, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was created in
1967 as an interstate compact agency and, by the terms of its enabling legislation, is an
agency and instrumentality of the District of Columbia, State of Maryland and the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and
WHEREAS, the agency was created to plan, finance, construct and operate a comprehensive
transit system for the National Capital Region, and
WHEREAS, WMATA has successfully completed and today operates a 103-mile Metrorail
system and a 1500-bus Metrobus system, and
WHEREAS, more than $25 billion in economic development has occurred near the Metrorail
stations, and
WHEREAS, the Metrorail and Metrobus systems carry over a million trips on an average
weekday, and
WHEREAS, the Metrorail system carries nearly 20 percent of all rush hour trips in the
Washington metropolitan area and 40 percent of rush hour trips to the downtown core and
~ves more than 325,000 vehicles from the roadways every weekday, and
WHEREAS, half of the Metrorail peak period riders are federal employees and more than 50
federal agencies or employment centers are located adjacent to Metrorail stations, and
WHEREAS, the Metrorail system moves as many people each day as 1,400 miles of new
traffic lanes, and
WHEREAS, the Washington metropolitan area is a "severe" non-attainment area for ozone
and has consistently failed to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality
standards, and
WHEREAS, continuing and expanded mass transit services are a critical part of the strategy
to meet these air quality standards, and
WHEREAS, the Metrorail and Metrobus systems have reached a point where major
investments are needed to keep the system maintained and respond to the needs of increased
ridership and demand for transit services, and
WHEREAS, the current value of the Metrorail system is $24 billion, and
WHEREAS, the WMATA system has a $1.5 billion critical need over the next six years to
protect, leverage, and secure this investment which promotes economic development, relieves
traffic congestion and contributes to improved air quality, and
WHEREAS, this $1.5 billion critical need includes $516 million for system maintenance and
replacement, $625 million to buy 120 additional rail cars and support systems so that eight car
trains can be operated to keep up with growing demand, $171 million to buy 185 additional
buses and related support facilities to meet customer demand, and $150 million in critical
infrastructure protection needs to secure the investment,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Fairfax City Council recognizes the critical
role of the WMATA Metrorail and Metrobus systems in the economic well being of the
National Capital Region and its significant contribution to enhancing the quality of life for its
citizens, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fairfax City Council endorses the need for a renewed
partnership between the federal, state and local governments to meet WMATA's critical
funding needs to preserve the WMATA mass transit system and fund system requirements
that are needed to adequately meet the growing ridership needs in the National Capital
Region, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fairfax City Council urges the Congress of the
United States and the federal Executive Branch to undertake a renewed commitment, as it did
in 1967 with the creation of WMATA as an interstate compact agency, to meet WMATA's
critical funding needs in order to preserve the WMATA mass transit system so it can
adequately meet the growing transportation needs in the National Capital Region.
Adopted this 10th day of February, 2004.
ATTEST:
Mayor
City Clerk
VOTE:
Councilwoman Cross Aye
Councilman Greenfield Aye
Councilwoman Lyon Aye
Councilman Rasmussen Aye
Councilman Silverthome Aye
Councilwoman Winter Aye