Norton Asks for Reconsideration of Award to French Company in Light of Homeland Security Concerns

Norton Asks for Reconsideration of Award to French Company in Light of Homeland Security and Transportation Safety Concerns

November 5, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC - The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a member of the Homeland Security and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, today released a copy of her letter to Virginia transportation authorities, expressing great concern about plans to award a contract for railway services involving the nation's capital to a French firm that has never operated a rail service in the United States and may be unable to comply with federal regulations. The Congresswoman asks for a review of the contract before it becomes final. Norton also pointed out that Virginia Railway Express (VRE) had received significant stimulus funding to create jobs in the region and in the national economy, which appears to be at cross purposes with workforce reductions proposed in the VRE workforce by a French company unfamiliar with homeland security and transportation practices and regulations in this country.

Norton said, "Importantly, I am concerned because I chair a committee that is having hearings on a major effort to completely renovate Union Station for expanding Amtrak, VRE, and MARC service, as well as future high speed rail lines. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, and the sole federal representative from the District of Columbia, I am very concerned that Keolis has apparently not submitted documentation of its operational safety or emergency evacuation plans for the national capital region to the FRA."

The full text of the Congresswoman's letter is attached.

November 5, 2009

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission

4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 720

Arlington, VA 22203

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission

14700 Potomac Mills Road

Woodbridge, VA 22192

BY EMAIL and MAIL

Dear Chairman and Board Members:

As a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure, I request that your commissions delay the awarding of the contract for rail operations and maintenance services, which Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has recommended be awarded to Keolis Rail Services America (Keolis), until you conduct a review of the issues discussed in this letter.

In my role on both committees, I routinely perform oversight of the maintenance, operation and safety of nation's transportation systems. I have significant concerns about the ability of a new railway to operate at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station and to participate in the national capital region's evacuation and disaster protocols. Importantly, I am concerned because I chair a committee that is having hearings on a major effort to completely renovate Union Station for expanded Amtrak, VRE, and MARC services, as well as future high speed rail lines. I also share the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) concerns about this contract, outlined in their November 4, 2009, letter to you. The VRE operating environment involves three passenger railroads and two Class I freight railroads, creating one of the busiest and most complex railroad environments in the United States. That environment is hyper-sensitive because of the Washington D.C. hub. The VRE operator must be able to seamlessly communicate with, and coordinate the operations of, transportation systems, and passenger and freight railroads of all kinds in the national capital region. A train operator must also be able to comply with FRA and other federal regulations. We understand that Keolis has never operated a rail service in the United States, which raises questions about how quickly it could get up to speed on federal regulations, especially regulations that involve the nation's capitol post 9/11.

We also understand that Keolis intends to retain only 60 to 70 percent of the VRE's current workforce. An important consideration in the selection of an operator for VRE is its ability to recruit and retain the most qualified workforce. This workforce must be cultivated through training and other programs designed to recruit and retain the best workforce. VRE recently received almost $9.8 million in federal stimulus funds, in addition to $3.8 million from Virginia's federal stimulus funds. Stimulus funds were intended in part to create jobs and enhance America's infrastructure. As VRE looks to expand its service, it seems likely that a reduction in force would reduce the quality of rail service, as well as rail safety, in the national capital region.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, and the sole federal congressional representative from the District of Columbia, I am very concerned that Keolis has apparently not submitted documentation of its operational safety or emergency evacuation plans for the national capital region to the FRA. The national capital region, which was hit on 9/11, is especially vulnerable to a terrorist attack, and protecting the safety of the national capital region needs to be our number one priority.

I urge you to consider the full array of qualifications of all competing operators to ensure the effective and safe operation of the railways in the national capital region. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Member Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Member Homeland Security Committee