Bill advances to give D.C. residents $100 a month to take transit

From the thousands of lives cut short every year by transportation pollution, to the ever-present threat of traffic accidents on our roads — our country’s car-centric transportation system comes with heavy costs. 

Washington, D.C., is taking steps to make it easier for people to get around by public transportation. Earlier this week the “Metro for D.C.” bill advanced out of committee in the District of Columbia and is now on its way to the D.C Council. The bill would provide all adult residents and young children with $100 each month to be used on public transportation. The initiative is an attempt to increase the use of public transit and assist the metro which has struggled in terms of fare recovery since the beginning of the pandemic. 

The program is meant to build off of the district’s Kids ride free program that already allows students to ride for free on public transportation. If passed, this initiative could have some significant benefits for the residents of Washington D.C including decreased air pollution, lessened roadway congestion and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more about the benefits of investing in public transportation visit Transform Transportation.