Dedicated Tax Funds Pursued For Metro

"This is not just an issue for Northern Virginia," David Snyder, a Falls Church City Council member and chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, said at a recent news conference. "This is about the state allowing us to raise adequate funds to support the jobs in Northern Virginia that, it turn, throw off a huge amount of taxes that are used by the rest of the state."

In the Maryland General Assembly, a bill introduced by Del. Sheila E. Hixson (D-Montgomery) would set aside $175 million for transit, including money for the regional effort, by dedicating one-quarter of a cent of the state sales tax to a trust fund. Two lawmakers are considering introducing similar bills.

Chip DiPaula Jr., chief of staff to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), did not commit to the idea, but he said the administration "is supportive of reviewing, studying and determining the best way, if we are to fund this."

The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), expressed reservations about the sales tax proposal because of competing demands for state money. Hixson said that in an election year, those demands are sure to intensify.

"It may be a hard sell," Hixson said, adding, "I don't think the governor is particularly enthused, either."

A question for the District is whether its funding plan would cover its portion of the regional obligation. Of the $150 million needed annually from the localities, about 37 percent would come from the District, 36 percent from Maryland and 27 percent from Virginia, according to several Metro officials, although those percentages are subject to change.

"At least we've all agreed that something needs to get done," said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large). "We're at a stage now when we need to address our own issues."

Metro operates the second-largest rail transit system and the fifth-largest bus system in the United States. The federal and state funding, which together would add $300 million a year over 10 years, would provide money for 340 rail cars and 275 buses and for station improvements, such as adding or renovating escalators and elevators.

Since the transit authority was created in the 1960s, it has relied on money from the federal government, from state and local governments that are part of the Metro compact and from its fare boxes. Metro increased fares in 2003 and 2004 and regularly goes to the local governments for money to meet its budget.

The local governments, in turn, weigh Metro's requests against other priorities, such as education.

For years, Metro's leaders have appealed to the governments to provide a steady and consistent flow of money so the transit system will not have to compete with other public needs.