The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is an integral part of our region's economy, connecting millions of people across the DMV area and directly employing over 9,000 Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) workers. Extensive, reliable, and equitable public transit ensures that nurses can get to hospitals, teachers can get to classrooms, federal employees can go to agencies, and visitors from across the world can explore our nation's capital. In short, the metro system underpins the lives of nearly every person in the DMV area and is a beacon of pride for our community.

However, due to the lingering effects of COVID-19 and high inflation, ridership and revenue have not yet returned to their pre-pandemic levels, creating a $750 million gap. If lawmakers in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia fail to come up with the critical fund to bridge this shortfall, the effects on our communities will be devastating;

Allowing any of these cutbacks to be enacted would have negative ripple effects for years to come. Cutting metro services will likely lead to fewer riders as people shift to more reliable transportation options, meaning less revenue from fares, and likely another round of budget cuts, creating a perilous death spiral.