DC Council to Introduce Bill Giving Residents $100 Transit Stipends
✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here.
This morning, Councilmember Charles Allen will announce plans to introduce a bill which would offer DC residents monthly stipends of up to $100 for public transit rides.
The "Metro for DC" bill, expected to be formally introduced on Tuesday, also includes provisions to create a "Dedicated Bus Fund" to help expand bus service in underserved and low-income areas. The total cost would be $54-$151 million, with the bus fund requiring $10 million, The Washington Post reports.
If the bill passes, residents would be able to sign up to have the stipend loaded onto their Smartrip cards. The monies would not roll over from month to month, so any unused portion of the stipend would not come out of the fund.
story continues below
loading...story continues above
The stipend would first be offered to residents who are Medicaid-eligible, followed by families who earn up to 100% of area median income (roughly $96,000), then families who earn up to $155,000 annually, then the remaining residents.
The bill is pitched as a way to incentivize increased transit ridership; WMATA is currently seeking feedback on a proposed budget which would cut and consolidate several bus lines in the city and seeks to restructure fares. The bill is not expected to require new sources of revenue, and it also plans to ensure participation for homeless and unbanked residents.
Councilmember Allen's office reports that about 170,000 DC residents use public transit, accounting for 30% of Metro ridership. There is currently a pilot program offering 1,000 low-income DC residents free or subsidized Smartrip cards, and the mayor has also been rallying to restore late-night service on Metrorail.
See other articles related to: dc council, metro, metrobus, metrorail, public transit, public transportation, smartrip, wmata
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc-council-to-introduce-bill-giving-residents-transit-stipends/16532.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
This article discusses the variety of rental restrictions that may exist in condomini... read »
The 67-room luxury hotel will be located at 3000 M Street NW, the site of the old Lat... read »
The eight-bedroom estate built by Banks Development along Chain Bridge Road will be l... read »
The new plans for the development along 11th Street continue to move forward.... read »
In the spring of 2023, the Arlington County Board voted unanimously to approve allowi... read »
- Understanding Rental Restrictions in Condominiums
- Jose Andres Group Partners On New Georgetown Hotel
- DC Home At Site Of Former Cafritz Mansion Set To List For $23.5 Million
- Plans Filed For 65-Unit Affordable Development In U Street Corridor
- Court Decision Overturns Missing Middle Ordinance in Arlington
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro