Norton Requests Metro Hearing Because of Dismaying Operational Difficulties (2/19/2010)
Norton Requests Metro Hearing Because of Dismaying Operational Difficulties
February 19, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC - The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her letter requesting a hearing on the "dismaying set of accidents, mishaps, and slowdowns [that] have crippled the Metro system." Norton believes that the second $150 million installment of the $1.5 billion, 10-year allocation for Metro has now become indispensable, but she noted that the first $150 million installment did not come until the tragedy of June 22, 2009, made it necessary. With Metro's deficit and other problems looming large, the Congresswoman believes that oversight of Metro's continuing difficulties by the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia will be important to ensure the second installment. In her letter, Norton said, "Metro has assumed national importance," noting that the National Transportation Safety Board has warned subway systems across the country of what may be similar risks and that the Obama administration proposed to regulate rapid rail systems for the first time following the crash.
The Congresswoman said that the almost weekly series of Metro accidents and other operational problems since the June 22nd accident, which killed nine people, may be an indication of potentially fatal overdue repairs and obsolete equipment. Norton said that the need for oversight is necessary, particularly because Metro is having problems that have not arisen in other systems, even in some that are older than Metro.
Yesterday Norton sent a letter to FEMA emphasizing the importance of financial disaster assistance to Metro, which reportedly has spent ten times more than its snow budget, in addition to other budgetary problems it has not yet solved.
A copy of the letter is below.
February 19, 2010
Chairman Stephen Lynch
The Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Lynch:
I very much appreciate your continuing oversight of the Metro system. You held your first hearing before the June 22, 2009 crash, and you were quick to hold another after that tragedy. Today, the June 22nd crash, combined with almost constant operational problems affecting the public and Metro personnel, has made the condition of Metro a matter of national importance. Following the June 22nd crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) advised subway systems across the country of similar risks, and the administration proposed legislation to regulate rapid rail systems nationally for the first time. Metro appears so uncertain as to how to remedy its problems, it has called in David Gunn, who was Metro general manager in the 1990s.
Since the June 22nd collision, a dismaying set of accidents, mishaps, and slowdowns have all but crippled Metro. Additional oversight is warranted in light of the second $150 million installment of federal matching funds for Metro's capital costs authorized by our committee due this year, the NTSB's upcoming report on the tragic crash, and nearly weekly Metro problems affecting public and personnel safety. Among the issues of particular concern is the effect of Metro's obsolete infrastructure and equipment and delayed maintenance on passenger safety. I recognize that there is an outstanding NTSB report that is focused particularly on the June 22nd accident, but since that tragedy, many varieties of difficulties have emerged suggesting far deeper problems. I request a hearing, particularly considering that federal operations in particular depend upon Metro's ability to transport federal employees throughout the national capital region to federal work sites.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton