Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a regional public agency that operates Metrorail and Metrobus in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

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Washington Metro: The rapid-transit rail system operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Metrorail is the agency’s region-spanning rail network.
National Capital Transportation Act of 1960: A federal law that established planning arrangements for transportation in the Washington metropolitan area. It created the institutional groundwork for regional transit planning before WMATA existed.
WMATA Board of Directors: The governing board through which the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and federal government oversee WMATA. Board representation is divided among the jurisdictions that created and fund the agency.
Transit-oriented development: Compact, mixed-use development designed around convenient access to public transportation. Metrorail stations have become focal points for denser development across the region.
Virginia Railway Express: A commuter rail service connecting Northern Virginia with Washington, D.C. Unlike WMATA’s Metrorail, it is a separate commuter-rail operator serving longer-distance trips.
Metrobus: The bus network operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Metrobus extends public transit beyond rail stations and corridors.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission: An interstate body created to regulate and coordinate public transportation in the Washington region. Its limited authority helped motivate the creation of a stronger regional transit agency.
WMATA Compact: The interstate compact that defines WMATA’s powers, governance, and responsibilities. It is the legal framework governing how the agency operates across jurisdictional borders.
Washington metropolitan area: The urban region centered on Washington, D.C., spanning parts of Maryland and Virginia. WMATA’s service area and political responsibilities follow this interconnected region.
MARC Train: Maryland’s commuter rail system linking Baltimore, Washington, and other communities. It complements WMATA while operating as a separate state-run rail service.