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Norton Says Secretary Foxx’s Appointments to WMATA Board Show Rider Safety Comes First

April 28, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement regarding U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx’s announcement today that he will appoint three new federal representatives to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors.

“In appointing these three highly qualified candidates with extensive background in transportation safety, Secretary Foxx is sending a strong message to passengers who have fallen away from Metro that their concerns about safety have been heard. Secretary Foxx is shoring up the WMATA Board’s safety oversight. The retention of Anthony Costa, Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, as an Alternate Director on the Board demonstrates a recognition that the region is faced with rebuilding a railroad and that it needs guidance and expertise at every level.”

Norton noted that the federal government has equal representation with the three jurisdictions on the WMATA Board of Directors and has perhaps more at stake than any of the jurisdictions, but does not shoulder any of the financial burden for WMATA’s daily operations. Norton noted that a shutdown of WMATA means a shutdown of the federal government itself. Norton said the current financial disparity among the entities that benefit from WMATA is unsustainable.