In the last Congress, the House passed a bill that would have authorized a $1.5 billion federal match over the next decade. The bill was shepherded through by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who previously chaired the committee with jurisdiction over the District of Columbia.

But with Davis no longer at that post, it seems unlikely that supporters will be able to muster the votes this time.

In the Senate, Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn has put a hold on a version of the bill.

"Passing this legislation remains a priority for me and other area members," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in remarks prepared for a regional transportation forum. "However, it is facing stiff procedural obstacles and misguided, conservative opposition."

In an op-ed piece last month in The Washington Times, Coburn said it should be up to Metro riders and their local governments to pay for improvements, not taxpayers from other parts of the country. He also accused Metro of poor management and waste.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., called Coburn's hold "an abuse of the power of an individual senator." He noted that the bill passed in committee 13-2.

A spokesman for Coburn did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, Cardin is pushing for money for transit in a climate change bill under consideration in the Senate. Cardin authored a section that would provide $171 billion to support existing transit systems and develop new lines. However, that bill also appeared headed toward defeat Thursday.

Supporters of Metro have long said the federal government should play a role in maintaining and improving it.

"There is a clear federal interest in Metro," Hoyer told regional transportation officials at the forum. "More than 40 percent of riders during peak ridership are federal employees. The federal government relies heavily on Metro for its evacuation plan of the nation's capital."

The three jurisdictions that Metro runs through also must contribute funds to get the federal match. The District and Maryland have taken care of that, but Virginia's Metro funding was part of a state transportation package passed last year that was subsequently struck down.

Davis was not optimistic about efforts to cobble together a new package.

"I don't think you're going to be getting a transportation bill out of Virginia this year," he said.

Without the funding, Metro is asking its board of directors to shift priorities on some of its projects to make sure "hundreds of millions of urgent capital needs" are met, Metro General Manager John Catoe said.

"Ultimately, by 2010, we will need those dollars replaced" to take care of the deferred projects, he added.

Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson has said he is concerned about moving ahead with the planned extension of Metro to Dulles International Airport (web|news), given the existing system's unfunded capital needs.