Provide 5 years of operating assistance to wmsc during the period of 7/01/2026 to 6/30/2031.

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission $4,520,608 on June 17, 2026, under the Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation System State Safety Oversight Formula Grant Program (CFDA 20.528) to provide five years of operating assistance from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.

The award funds salaries and benefits to operate the WMSC and execute the State Safety Oversight program mandating safety oversight of the WMATA Metrorail system under 49 CFR 674. The WMSC will conduct organizational operations necessary to support comprehensive safety monitoring, inspections, audits, and technical assistance for the Metrorail system. The funding enables the WMSC to maintain its operational capacity and fulfill its statutory responsibilities as the designated State Safety Oversight agency for the rail fixed guideway system in the National Capital Region. Metrorail riders, Metrorail personnel, local jurisdictional first responders, and the National Capital Region benefit from the outcomes of the safety oversight work, resulting in a safe WMATA Metrorail system. Performance occurs in Washington, DC. The award carries no subrecipient activity; the WMSC receives matching state and local funds equally from the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide 5 years of operating assistance to wmsc during the period of 7/01/2026 to 6/30/2031.

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