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D.C.-area residents could get a clearer picture by the end of March of how regional leaders might secure more reliable funding for Metro and other public transit systems.

Kate Mattice, executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, said information is expected to be presented at the DMV Moves task force’s next meeting on March 24. The location has not yet been determined. A second meeting is scheduled for May 16.

WMATA and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments convened the 23-member task force last June. Its elected and appointed leaders represent Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and the District.

The group is exploring ways to provide greater financial stability for Metro, Virginia Railway Express and local transit networks. Possibilities considered in recent months have included regional taxes and extending toll hours on Interstate 66.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who leads the NVTC board’s Metro committee, said the region’s current transit-funding structure is fragmented, complex and sometimes difficult to navigate.

The search for local revenue could become more pressing if President Donald Trump’s administration reduces federal transit support. NVTC Chair David Snyder, a Falls Church City Council member, said regional officials will need to concentrate more heavily on funding choices than they have previously.

For now, Metro has not encountered major funding surprises from the new administration, according to Paul Smedberg, Virginia’s representative on the WMATA board. Speaking at the NVTC’s March 6 meeting, he cautioned that circumstances could still change.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently sent letters to WMATA, Amtrak and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requesting reports about crime and safety on transit systems. The letters did not address funding.

Mattice said federal developments are unfolding rapidly but have not created an immediate crisis. Changes in Washington could ultimately either help local transit agencies or make their work more difficult, she said.

Metro has reported increased ridership following the administration’s return-to-office order for federal employees, alongside similar moves by some private employers. However, efforts to shrink the region’s federal workforce—and any resulting effects on private businesses—could offset those gains.

NVTC members nevertheless expressed confidence that the region can respond to new challenges. Alcorn said Metro’s efforts to manage its finances and control costs now appear realistic.

A separate General Assembly panel, the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, is also examining new or expanded ways for Virginia to cover its share of local transit expenses. Its recommendations are expected to reach state legislative leaders by the end of the year.