Sen. Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover, said convincing constituents that more money for Metro is a good idea is a tough sell when structures like the Robert O. Norris Bridge over the Rappahannock River in his district “is literally falling into the river.” Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne, who was at the meeting, noted that the Virginia Department of Transportation does not consider the bridge near White Stone “structurally deficient.”

“How is it that I can go to my people and say ‘We’re going to spend money on an organization where we have no control from the state, we have no say so in the administration based on the way the board is put together,’” McDougle said. “That they’re clearly dropping money for staff that is, in my opinion, paid too much based on those legacy contracts. ... There’s no way I can justify a vote to spend that kind of money for an entity that we have this little control over and is refusing to change how that structure is done.”

LaHood said Virginia can afford to have more than one priority.

“We’re going to try to fix the governance part so you feel you do have a voice,” he said. “We can figure out how to fix your bridge and have a good transportation system — Metro system — in Washington, D.C., that you can be proud of.”