May 4, 2023

VIA EMAIL

The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor

The Honorable Phil Mendelson, Chairman
Members of the District of Columbia Council

Dear Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson and Members of the District of

Columbia Council:

The WMATA Board values our longstanding partnership with the District of
Columbia and appreciates the Council’s interest in providing zero fare
Metrobus within the District. However, as Board member Loh and I
communicated in our meeting on May 1 st, we operate a regional system, and
decisions about fare policy should be made as a region. Thus, we plan to
convene regional partners on this topic.

Additionally, Metro is currently working on a reimagined Better Bus network that

has the potential to change the costs and obligations associated with bus
service. Most importantly, we are facing a steep fiscal cliff in FY2025 that
requires the region’s total attention.

We have encouraged our partners to invest in bus priority infrastructure to

support a bus system that meets our shared goals of improving bus service for
customers, economic development, equity, sustainability, and reducing traffic
congestion. The District's K Street Transitway, a critical piece of the bus
network redesign, is expected to support 34 Metrobuses and 50 total buses an
hour, and over six million riders annually on buses that use the corridor. From a
planning and operations perspective, the Better Bus network may need to be
reworked if the K Street Transitway does not proceed.
WashingtonMetrop
olitan AreaTransit Based on all of these factors, the WMATA Board does not believe now is the
Authority
right time to engage in discussions with the District about a zero-fare program.
300 7th Street, Therefore, we ask that the Council defer the legislation for one year in order to
SWWashington, DC
20024202-962-1234 further a regional approach to zero fare policy.
wmata.com

wmata The WMATA Board, however, is interested in participating in the District’s

A District of
Columbia,Maryland and
proposal to provide 24-hour service on 13 bus routes in the District. We have
VirginiaTransit Partnership directed the General Manager to work with the District on a memorandum of
understanding for that important service improvement. We appreciate your
leadership on addressing a gap in our regional mobility network.
The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor
The Honorable Phil Mendelson, Chairman
Members of the District of Columbia Council
May 4, 2023
Page 2

We look forward to working with the District and our other regional partners to
tackle Metro’s funding challenge and provide world class transit to the National
Capital Region.

Sincerely,

Paul C. Smedberg, Chair

WMATA Board of Directors

cc: WMATA Board of Directors

Randy Clarke, WMATA CEO & General Manager