Regional Members Again Ask Congress for Promised Metro Funding Following Red Line Tragedy (6/24/09)
Regional Members Again Ask Congress for Promised Metro Funding Following Red Line Tragedy
June 24, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the tragic Metro crash yesterday, Congresswoman Norton circulated a letter for signature by the regional delegation which today delivered their second letter to the appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development requesting promised funding for the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The letter highlights the pressing need to replace the ‘1000 Series' train cars and other urgent capital and preventative maintenance needs, which yesterday's Metro tragedy reinforced. A bill authorizing $1.5 billion for WMATA over ten years was passed last year, and the three jurisdictions, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, have complied with the local dedicated funding and statutory requirements.
"The issue once again rests firmly with Congress," Norton said. "We asked the President to put the first installment of $150 million in his budget, and when he did not, regional House members requested that amount from the appropriators. We are again asking Congress to fund what it has authorized. Half of the Metro stations are at federal buildings. The federal government cannot operate without the Metro system and that means a safe Metro system. Congress alone has the funds to meet the needs of America's Subway."
Text of Letter Follows:
Dear Chairman Olver and Ranking Member Latham:
In the aftermath of yesterday's tragic crash of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) trains, we are writing to urge your full and careful consideration of our request to provide dedicated funding for urgent capital and preventive maintenance needs, including much-needed new cars, for the transit authority in accordance with P.L. 110-432.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and WMATA, the most seriously damaged car was part of the ‘1000 Series.' These cars previously had received an "urgent safety recommendation" for phase-out or retrofit by NTSB, and WMATA has ranked the replacement of this series as its number one priority. WMATA has been gradually buying new cars as funding allows, but as yesterday's tragedy demonstrates, too slowly to make the critical difference. With the ‘1000 Series' car making up 300 of the 1,100-car fleet, their replacement has been Metro's priority for the first $600 million of the $1.5 billion authorized for Metro in accordance with P.L. 110-432. This funding will be matched by the local jurisdictions which recently have forwarded the attached letter certifying that the respective jurisdictions have completed the amendments to the WMATA compact, as required under P.L. 110-432.
Again, in the wake of this tragedy, we strongly urge you to include this critical funding in the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.