Applying DOT's Rail Policy to Washington, DC.'s Metrorail System Could Save Federal Funds

摘要

The Department of Transportation's policy of requiring full funding--setting a ceiling on the level of Federal funding--and a modified version of its incremental construction policy for rapid-rail systems should be applied to the 26 unfunded miles of the Washington, D.C., rapid-rail system. The system has been planned as a 101-mile system; full or partial funding has been received for about 75 miles. GAO believes that if the Department's rail policy were applied to the 26 unfunded miles (1) Federal savings could be realized, (2) better use of limited Federal funds could be made, and (3) more realistic cost estimates could be made, allowing for better forecasts of future needs. In addition, GAO believes that the Department needs to better define the type of funding commitment required from local jurisdictions to support the system and require periodic reevaluations of funding commitments.