By Lillian Kafka

Published: May 8, 2008

Metro's general manager announced $100 million in diversions from the agency's capital spending plan in a move to fund repairs to the dilapidated transit system.

John Catoe plans on asking Metro's board to borrow $48 million to pay for critical safety and capacity projects, said Metro's Candace Smith.

"We have reprioritized our capital projects and shifted funds to more pressing projects over the next two years," Catoe said in a statement.

The announcement comes a few months after a court ruling that stopped the funneling of tax money to Metro from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

As Metro's board holds the collection basket in an increasingly stark economic year, state legislators are in the midst of finding a fix of their own.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will host a meeting at the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge. It's the first of a series to gather comments on transportation funding.

"There's no agreement among people in their own parties or even in their own regions on what to do," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick, R-Woodbridge.

The NVTA was scheduled to begin cutting annual $50 million checks to Metro—a move halted by a Feb. 29 Virginia Supreme Court decision.

Frederick has long been an opponent of the seven taxes and fees NVTA was to collect. The revenue from those taxes was supposed to be one of the largest infusions of road and transit money in Virginia in two decades.

But economic indicators were rosier when those taxes passed the General Assembly in 2007; now politicians are even more wary of raising taxes.

"I don't think people can pay more," Frederick said.

Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, said his enthusiasm for a sales tax increase on gasoline is waning.

"Any tax increase is going to be a tough sell in the General Assembly, but the people you've really got to sell is the public," Colgan said. "But I think everyone recognizes that we need more revenue."

Frederick sits, along with Metro's board chairman Christopher Zimmerman, on the board of the NVTA.

"It is critical that there is a renewed partnership from federal, state and local governments to support Metro operations and the ability of Metro to serve the nation's capital and the region," said Zimmerman, of Arlington.

Staff writer Lillian Kafka can be reached at 703-878-8065 or .