By Jeffrey C. McKay, Fairfax County Board Chair

The Youngkin Administration’s decision to remove additional Metro funding from the General Assembly’s proposed state budget is beyond troubling. The money the Administration believes Northern Virginia can use to make up the gap is inadequate for the funding problems Metro is facing. In order to fund the system, WMATA would have to implement drastic cost saving measures such as closing stations, increasing fares beyond what people will accept, or other avoidable measures.

It is clear that Metro has a profound positive economic benefit to Northern Virginia, Virginia and the nation as a whole. Metrorail alone generates almost $1 billion in annual personal income and sales tax revenue for Virginia, which accounts for nearly 5% of the entire Virginia general fund. For every dollar the Commonwealth invests in transit in Northern Virginia, an additional $1.60 in statewide revenue is generated – a 160% return on investment.

Removing needed state aid only places a greater burden on Fairfax County residents who are already on the hook for inadequate state funding for things like education and mental health treatment. Northern Virginia localities are ready to meet our obligations and would appreciate it if the state would meet theirs. I don’t want the message from the Youngkin Administration to be: “Northern Virginia is on its own.”