(The Center Square) – The Virginia Senate has changed course on funding Metro after the legislators agreed to include additional money for the struggling transit agency in the budget.
Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, announced the decision after the transit agency promised to make reforms.
“After securing commitments for the long term reform that Metro needs I have decided to put their extra funding into our Senate budget for this year,” Lucas posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “We will be monitoring this situation closely on behalf of all taxpayers in Virginia who are stepping in to help save this system.”
The funding amount was unspecified, but previously, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, which operates Metro, requested the commonwealth provide $130 million.
The transit agency has been bogged with a $750 million budget shortfall, threatening service cuts. Maryland has agreed to commit $150
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