Provide 5 years of operating assistance to wmsc during the period of 7/01/2025 to 6/30/2030

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) a Formula Grant totaling $4,053,689 on July 21, 2025, under the Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation System State Safety Oversight Formula Grant Program (CFDA 20.528). This five-year award, extending from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030, provides operating assistance to enable WMSC to fulfill its federally-mandated State Safety Oversight responsibilities for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail system. Funding covers salaries, benefits, and organizational expenses necessary to maintain WMSC's operational capacity and execute its safety oversight mission in compliance with 49 CFR 674 regulations.

The grant supports WMSC's core safety oversight activities for the WMATA Metrorail system, including comprehensive safety monitoring, inspections, audits, and technical assistance functions. Intended beneficiaries include Metrorail riders, WMATA personnel, local jurisdictional first responders, and the broader National Capital Region, all of whom benefit from the sustained safety and compliance oversight of the metropolitan rail transit system. No subrecipient activities are associated with this award.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide 5 years of operating assistance to wmsc during the period of 7/01/2025 to 6/30/2030

Activities

Funds will be used to cover salaries and benefits needed to operate the wmsc to execute the SSO program.

Expected outcomes

Funding will permit wmsc to continue to conduct all required organizational needs to support the execution of an effective SSO program as mandated by 49 CFR 674 to oversee the system safety of the wmata metrorail system.

Intended beneficiaries

Metrorail riders metrorail personnel local jurisdictional first responders and the national capital region will benefit from the outcomes of the wmsc state safety oversight work. The result being a safe wmata metrorail system