About WMATA The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or Metro) operates the third-largest heavy rail system and sixth-largest bus network in the United States and serves the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) mega-region. The Metro transit system is critical to the DMV’s economy and is a proud employer of over 12,000 individuals that serve the region’s customers every day. WMATA was created by an interstate compact in 1967 between DC, Maryland, and Virginia to plan, develop, build, finance, and operate a balanced regional transportation system in the national capital area. Metro began building its rail system in 1969, acquired four regional bus systems in 1973, and began operating the first phase of Metrorail in 1976. Today, Metrorail serves 98