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Norton Says NTSB’s Urgent Safety Oversight Recommendation for WMATA Demonstrates Need for Stronger Federal Oversight

September 30, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.—After the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today recommended to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) assume safety oversight responsibilities for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, said she will support the District of Columbia in setting up a rail safety office, as Maryland and Virginia have already done, so that D.C. inspectors can conduct their own rail inspections under FRA regulations. D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh introduced a bill to establish a rail safety office earlier this year. Norton said she agrees that more federal oversight of WMATA is necessary, and will be closely reviewing NTSB's recommendation.

"The oversight problems at WMATA have been exposed by NTSB and FTA's investigations following the tragic fatal accident in January at L'Enfant Plaza," Norton said. "A shakeup of WMATA's oversight systems is clearly needed. However, the urgent nature of NTSB's recommendations will likely be impeded by Congress' demonstrated inability to act swiftly. Councilmember Cheh's bill to set up a rail office has been pending since January and now may have become urgent. We have vast rail networks already running through our city, and a local rail safety office would allow District officials to be trained by FRA and be certified to conduct inspection if FRA ultimately does assume oversight of WMATA."

Under the NTSB's recommendation, FRA would replace the Tri-State Oversight Committee, which has been heavily criticized by NTSB and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Norton said that although FRA already provides safety oversight over the railroads running through the city, setting up a state rail safety office would allow local D.C. inspectors to be trained by FRA and certified as FRA-approved inspectors.