Jurisdictions Release Draft Compact for WMATA Safety Oversight

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe today announce a key milestone in the creation of the oversight commission that will provide safety oversight for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). In consultation with Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and independent legal advisors, the jurisdictions have prepared the first draft of the Interstate Compact to create the Metrorail Safety Commission. In the coming weeks, the jurisdictions will review the draft legislation, which is substantially complete, with their respective legislative bodies, the WMATA Board of Directors, the Federal Transit Administration, and the recently appointed USDOT special adviser for WMATA oversight. The legislation will be introduced later this year before the Council of District of Columbia and during the 2017 legislative assembly sessions in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“This is an important step toward improving the safety and reliability of metro, and I thank Governors Hogan and McAuliffe for their partnership,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “This was an idea born out of collaboration and coordination between DC, Maryland and Virginia.  Once again, the DMV has shown that when we come together as a region, we get things done.”

“Collaboration between Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC is crucial to ensure the safety and security of WMATA,” said Governor Larry Hogan.  “I would like to thank Governor McAuliffe and Mayor Bowser for their partnership in an oversight commission that will help ensure millions of Metro riders have access to a world-class public transportation system.”

“Our administration has been a constant advocate for stronger safety protections for the commuters who use the Metrorail system each day, including more than 300,000 Virginians,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We concur with the direction of the new leadership at WMATA and its work to ensure that safety is the central goal of the Metrorail system. By establishing the Metro Safety Commission and collaborating with our partners in Maryland and the District of Columbia, we are putting in place the necessary policies and oversight to ensure that safety continues to be the top priority.”

View “version 8” of the draft compact HERE.