As part of a new sustainability initiative, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Administration (WMATA or Metro) announced that it plans to increase its ridership by 25 percent by 2025. This target far exceeds the 13 percent increase in population projected for WMATA's territory between 2010 and 2025, exceeds the 8% increase in population projected for WMATA's territory between 2015 and 2025, and represents an increase in transportation mode share.

Other targets announced as part of this sustainability initiative include reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle mile by 15 percent by 2025, reducing water use per vehicle mile 20 percent by 2025, and increasing greenhouse gas displacement 10 percent by 2025.

Metro adopted Momentum, a strategic plan, last year. According to CEO Richard Sarles, the Sustainability Initiative "sets Metro on course to maximize the value of the investment placed in the system while adding value to the region through increased mobility and transit-oriented land use."

An increase in WMATA's mode share will likely reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions per capita as individuals shift from private vehicles with higher emissions per capita, though WMATA made no comment about this issue.