A trio of U.S. senators from the Washington area on Friday called on their colleagues to approve a $1.5 billion federal payment to Metro for capital upgrades, on the condition that regional jurisdictions come up with dedicated transit funding as well.

Maryland Sens. Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, all Democrats, urged the Senate to take up their bipartisan Metro funding bill this month. On the eve of a major fare increase, the senators said, suburban riders need help before they are socked with even higher parking and rail fees.