Board of Trade Supports WMATA’s Federal Funding Application for Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit Project
About This Support Letter:
The Greater Washington Board of Trade is supporting Metro’s request for federal funding for the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project. The project would improve service along the H Street and Benning Road corridors, connecting residents to jobs and essential services. It would also support RFK Campus redevelopment by accommodating growth and reducing congestion to future Washington Commanders games, concerts, and additional entertainment gatherings. We are submitting this letter because reliable, accessible transit is essential to Greater Washington’s economic competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
Submitted Letter:
September 18, 2026
Federal Transit Administration
Dear Acting Deputy Administrator Matthew Cahill,
On behalf of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, I am pleased to offer our strong support for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) and its application for federal funding to support the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade represents hundreds of employers and organizations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Our mission is to advance the economic competitiveness and prosperity of the Greater Washington region.
We have long viewed transportation infrastructure, particularly public transit, as essential economic infrastructure that connects workers to jobs, expands access to opportunity, and supports the growth and competitiveness of our region.
The Gold Line represents a transformative investment that will significantly improve east-west mobility across Washington, D.C., while delivering broad economic, environmental, and equity benefits. By creating a high-capacity transit connection linking key employment centers, neighborhoods, educational institutions, and regional transportation hubs, the project will strengthen access to jobs, services, housing, and economic opportunity for residents throughout the District.
The Gold Line will address longstanding transportation challenges along the H Street and Benning Road corridors by providing faster, more reliable, and more frequent service. The project will strengthen connections between underserved communities and major employment destinations, improving transportation choices for residents who depend on transit for daily mobility.
Importantly, the Gold Line is also a critical component of the transportation strategy supporting the redevelopment of the RFK Campus. As plans advance for a new mixed-use district that includes housing, commercial activity, recreational amenities, and a new stadium, robust transit infrastructure will be essential to ensuring that growth occurs in a sustainable and accessible manner. The Gold Line will help accommodate increased travel demand, reduce congestion, and provide convenient connections for residents, workers, and visitors.
Beyond its role in supporting redevelopment, the Gold Line serves a broader regional purpose. Reliable and efficient transit expands labor market access, supports business activity, encourages private investment, and promotes economic competitiveness.
Investments such as the Gold Line help create connected communities where residents can more easily access employment opportunities, and businesses can reach customers and workers.
The project also reflects the type of integrated transportation and land-use planning that federal infrastructure programs seek to encourage. By coordinating transit investments alongside major development initiatives, Metro and its partners are positioning the District to accommodate future growth while advancing sustainability, accessibility, and economic resilience.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade strongly believes that the Gold Line will generate significant public benefits that extend well beyond the project corridor. The investment will improve mobility, expand access to opportunity, support neighborhood revitalization, and strengthen the region’s economic foundation for years to come.
We respectfully urge the Federal Transit Administration to support Metro’s application and provide the federal funding necessary to advance this important project.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jack McDougle, President and CEO
Greater Washington Board of Trade
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