Federal transit officials are urging agencies such as Metro to spend what’s remaining of their federal stimulus dollars — or risk losing the aid. More than $8 billion was allocated to transit agencies around the country as part of President Obama’s stimulus package in 2009, with Metro receiving nearly $202 million. The catch was that they needed to spend the money by Sept. 30, 2015.

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff sent a letter to all major transit agencies warning them that there was “a large balance of undisbursed funds.” More than 70 percent of the obligated funds have been spent, according to the letter, but he urged agencies to “accelerate” the spending.