D.C. Metro Fund Weighed To Boost Navy Yard Stop

That will increase the capacity from 5,000 riders an hour to 15,000, officials said.

But Allen Y. Lew, chief executive of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, said last month that he was forced to remove the $20 million for Metro, along with other infrastructure items, from the stadium budget to deal with rising construction and land costs.

Williams has stressed that he will ask the federal government to help pay the Metro costs, although Bobb said yesterday that the city has no firm commitment.

It is not clear how much Bobb has requested from the Metro fund for the Navy Yard Station upgrades. Mayoral spokesman Vince Morris said he was not aware of the proposal yesterday.

But D.C. Department of Transportation Director Dan Tangherlini has tapped the special fund for $500,000 to do a planning study on the Navy Yard Station.

"It's to do an engineering study to nail down the real scope of the [renovation] project," Tangherlini said.

Tangherlini and Graham stressed that the special Metro fund is not part of the city's general fund because the money must be used for transportation needs. The Metro board of directors approved Tangherlini's expenditure at its last meeting and would have to vote again before any additional money could be used.

Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who was not aware of the plan, said: "It wouldn't surprise me if it were true. I would absolutely favor using that money to expand the Metro stop."