Transit Funding

Northern Virginia relies on a strong and dependable transit network to support its economy and quality of life. Sustaining Metro, VRE and local bus systems requires long-term, sustainable funding that keeps pace with rising costs and preserves the safe, reliable and affordable service that millions of riders depend on. 

Transit agencies in Virginia and across the nation are under significant pressure as inflation affects labor, construction, vehicle and equipment expenses. Fixed state and regional funding sources, including the WMATA Capital Fund and the Commuter Rail Operating and Capital Fund, have lost purchasing power over time. These challenges are occurring as our region’s transit systems are experiencing year-over-year growth in ridership.

Public transit is essential to Virginia’s economy and quality of life.

The Commonwealth’s 40 transit systems:

      • Safely move 3 million people each week.
      • Ease congestion on our roads.
      • Save Virginia families money on transportation costs.
      • Generate billions of dollars in economic activity each year.
      • Provide affordable access to jobs, healthcare, education and opportunity.

It is essential for the General Assembly to consider solutions that maintain the strength and stability of the transit systems that support Virginia’s economy. NVTC’s 2026 Legislative and Policy Agenda provides details on these transit funding priorities.

Regional Funding Initiatives

NVTC Commissioners and staff were actively involved in two regional funding initiatives spanning 2024 to 2025. NVTC endorses the recommendations adopted through the SJ 28 and DMVMoves efforts and supports approaches that create sustainable funding, improve system accountability and promote cost-effective operations.

DMVMoves

A regional initiative led by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Metro that evaluated long-term capital funding needs and identified regional strategies to improve transit coordination and system performance. The final Task Force resolution highlights shared priorities for capital investment, modernization and coordinated bus priority infrastructure.

Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee (SJ 28)

A General Assembly joint subcommittee that examined long-term funding solutions for Metro, VRE and local bus systems in the NVTC and PRTC districts. The Joint Subcommittee’s final resolution outlines potential statewide and regional funding options, cost-management strategies and accountability recommendations.

Explore our guides to better understand transit funding and the importance of transit in our region:
Value of Northern Virginia Transit to the Commonwealth
How Transit is Funded in Northern Virginia
NoVA Needs Sustainable Transit Funding
Additional Resources
NVTC’s Guiding Principles for Transit Funding

NVTC adopted a set of funding principles to help build a Virginia-consensus position that NVTC members of the General Assembly’s Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee (SJ 28) and DMVMoves could use to advocate for NVTC priorities. These principles called for revenue sources that are long-term, sustainable, can be bonded and are able to grow with system needs. They emphasized preserving existing state, regional and local transit revenues, reducing reliance on local property taxes, and using a balanced mix of funding tools rather than depending on a single source. NVTC also reaffirmed the importance of a partnership between the state and the region in meeting Virginia’s Metro obligations. 

These guiding principles formed the foundation of NVTC’s support for the DMVMoves resolution and SJ 28 recommendations adopted in late 2025. 

Guiding Principles for Future Transit FundingNVTC Principles in Response to DMVMoves Funding Concepts
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