Norton's Bill Passed Today Score a Double Win For WMATA and Amtrak (6/11/08)

Washington, DC-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today voted on the House floor in the Committee of the Whole for an amendment that included H.R. 401, which she sponsored as an original co-sponsor, to provide federal funds for infrastructure and capital costs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The WMATA bill was added as an amendment to the Amtrak bill, H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, which the Congresswoman also co-sponsored. Norton, Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) and other regional members have been trying for four years to get the WMATA bill, worth $150 million annually or $1.5 billion over ten years, for Metro trains, buses, tunnels, and other infrastructure that has worn down under the crush of ever increasing ridership and use.

Amtrak operates nationwide, but its east coast operations are the most heavily used. For the first time, the Amtrak bill authorizes a high-speed rail corridor program between Washington, DC, and New York City (Northeast Corridor), as well as for additional projects on any other corridor. Among the bill's other provisions are congestion grants to states for the capital costs of facilities and equipment for high priority rail corridor projects, and requirements for a Northeast Corridor state-of-good-repair plan and studies of passenger rail service, locomotive biofuel, and the use of biobased lubricants. Norton went to the floor to speak both on the WMATA funding amendment and on the path breaking Amtrak bill, which she also co-sponsored.

In order to qualify for federal funds, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia had to pass local laws for annual dedicated Metro funding. The District of Columbia was the first to do so by dedicating a 0.5 cent sales tax revenue. An inspector general to oversee spending and four additional new federal members to Metro's board of directors are also required.

The Congresswoman, a member of both the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which authorized both bills, and the Homeland Security Committees said, "The local dedicated and the federal capital funding together provide the only way to conquer the huge difficulties that WMATA faces, as demonstrated by the recent derailment of the Orange line. Most of the riders on weekdays are federal employees or tourists. The Post-911 security needs alone make a strong case for federal funding for the system that moves federal employees throughout the region."

Among the challenges that face the core 103 mile Metro and bus system are additional rail cars and track work, cameras for buses, information technology, water damaged tunnels and passenger facilities.