Montgomery County will receive upwards of $30 million to shore up transit funding and offset lost revenue resulting from decreased ridership during the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be receiving a combined total of over $30 million to cover lost revenue through Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds and a grant from the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). As previously discussed on Conduit Street, public transportation is taking a hit from decreased ridership as individuals stay home or opt for other ways to get around. To support local transit, MCDOT has received both federal and state funds. Montgomery County was able to secure over $30 million due to $28 million from CARES funding and a further $2 million grant from the MTA. Just over a billion dollars in CARES funding has been awarded to the Washington metropolitan area, with the majority of funding allocated to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
From the press release:
“This is important. These are critical Federal relief funds that will bring more than $30 million of assistance to Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “These funds will help mitigate the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on our transit system. I want to thank the dedicated employees of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation for leading our efforts to obtain this aid. I also want to thank our regional partners, including the leadership of WMATA and the Maryland Department of Transportation for their work to distribute aid to affected jurisdictions in an equitable fashion. Additionally, I want to thank our outstanding Congressional delegation for making these funds available.”
