A federal transit benefit that tens of thousands of Washington-area Metro riders rely upon will not be restored to higher levels in the compromise transportation bill that Congress is expected to approve on Friday.

The benefit, which riders can either outright or as a pre-tax paycheck deduction, had been raised to up to $230 per month as part of the stimulus programs to match parking benefits. But on Jan. 1, it dropped back down to a maximum of $125 per month.