The US has approved $150m in funding to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to replace its 1000-Series rail cars.
The states of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will also provide $150m in matching funds to help pay for the improvements.
Of the total funding, $79.3m has been allocated to purchase about 300 new 7000-Series rail cars and $44.4m will be used for track rehabilitation.
The remaining $176.3m will be used to address other infrastructure projects within the system, such as Metrorail station improvements, rehabilitation of track maintenance equipment, replacement of track switching equipment, and elevator and escalator repairs.
The grant also allocates $10.3m for the transit agency to address safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 authorises the US Department of Transportation to make $150m available annually to WMATA for capital and preventive maintenance for a ten-year period.
