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Wikipedia

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA /wəˈmɑːtə/ wə-MAH-tə),[3] commonly referred to as Metro, is a tri-jurisdictional non-government organization that operates transit service in the Washington metropolitan area. WMATA was created by the United States Congress as an interstate compact between Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Old Metro headquarters at the Jackson Graham Building, now replaced by a new location at L'Enfant Plaza[1]
Agency overview
FormedFebruary 20, 1967; 56 years ago (1967-02-20)
Preceding agency
Typeinterstate compact agency
JurisdictionWashington, D.C., and parts of Maryland and northern Virginia
Headquarters300 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Agency executive
  • Randy Clarke[2]
Key document
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact
Websitewmata.com

WMATA provides rapid transit service under the Metrorail name, fixed-route bus service under the Metrobus brand, and paratransit service under the MetroAccess brand. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 183,172,500, or about 830,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.[4]

WMATA has its own police force, the Metro Transit Police Department.

The authority's board of directors consists of two voting representatives each from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and the U.S. federal government. Each jurisdiction also appoints two alternate representatives. WMATA has no independent taxation authority and depends on its member jurisdictions for capital investments and operating funding.

In addition to ongoing operations, WMATA participates in regional transportation planning. Recent projects include an infill station serving Potomac Yard, an extension of Metrorail to Dulles International Airport, and streetcar lines in the District and Northern Virginia.

History edit

Planning and creation edit

 
A New Flyer DE42LFA #6567 Local branded bus at the Ballston-MU Metro Station in April 2011.

Starting in the mid-19th century, the Washington area had been served by a variety of private bus lines and streetcar services, including extensions of Northern Virginia trolleys. Over time, most were absorbed into the Capital Transit Company, formed on December 1, 1933, by the amalgamation of the Washington Railway and Electric Company, Capital Traction, and the Washington Rapid Transit bus company. Financier Louis Wolfson acquired the company in 1949 but had his franchise revoked in 1955 amidst a crippling strike. Congress then awarded a 20-year concession to O. Roy Chalk on the condition that he replace the city's remaining streetcars with buses by 1963. The company was thereafter known as DC Transit.

In that same year, the Mass Transportation Survey attempted to forecast both freeway and mass transit systems sufficient to meet the needs of the Washington area in the year 1980.[5] In 1959 the study's final report called for the construction of two rapid transit subway lines in downtown Washington.[6] Congress responded to the report by enacting the National Capital Transportation Act of 1960 to coordinate future transportation planning for the area.[7] The act created a new federal agency called the National Capital Transportation Agency (NCTA). However, the 1959 report also called for extensive freeway construction within the District of Columbia. Residents successfully lobbied for a moratorium on freeway construction in what became part of a movement called the "freeway revolts."[8]

The NCTA's November 1962 Transportation in the National Capital Region report included a proposal for an 89-mile (143 km), $793 million rail system. The total cost of the proposed highway and rail system was less than the 1959 plan due to the elimination of controversial freeways.[9] The plan was supported by President Kennedy, but opposed by highway advocates in Congress who reduced the rail system to only 23 miles (37 km) within the District of Columbia.[9] However, that proposal was defeated in Congress shortly after President Kennedy's death.[10] The Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 passed Congress, which promised 66% federal funding for urban mass transportation projects. Encouraged by the new act, the NCTA recommended the formation of a private entity or a multi-state authority to operate the system using more non-federal funds.[11] On September 8, 1965, President Johnson signed the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965 approving the construction of a 25-mile (40 km) rapid transit system.[12]

The NCTA negotiated with Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia for the formation of a new regional entity. The authority was created by an interstate compact, a special type of contract or agreement between one or more states. Pursuant to the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution, any such compact must be approved by Congress.[13] After the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact was approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 1965, and passed through the Virginia General Assembly and Congress in 1966, WMATA was founded on February 20, 1967.[14]

As a government agency, the compact grants WMATA sovereign immunity by all three jurisdictions in which it operates, and except for certain limited exceptions, the authority cannot be successfully sued unless it waives immunity.[15] Under the provisions of the compact, the authority is legally incorporated in the District of Columbia, where WMATA maintains its headquarters.

Metro construction and operation edit

 
Washington Metro car in 1999
 
A Washington Metro Breda 3000-Series car on Blue Line route in October 2005.

WMATA broke ground for its train system in 1969.[16] The first portion of the Metrorail system opened March 27, 1976, connecting Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue on the Red Line.[16][17] The 103 miles (166 km) of the original 83-station system was completed on January 13, 2001, with the opening of Green Line's segment from Anacostia to Branch Avenue.[17]

WMATA's bus system is a successor to four privately owned bus companies.[18] While WMATA's original compact provided only for rail service, by 1970 the need for reliable bus services to connect passengers to rail stations led to calls for authority to overhaul the entire bus system as well. The compact was amended in 1971, allowing the authority to operate buses and take over bus companies.[19][20] After months of negotiation with Chalk failed to produce an agreed price, on January 14, 1973, WMATA condemned DC Transit and its sister company, the Washington, Virginia and Maryland Coach Company and acquired their assets for $38.2 million.[16] On February 4, it acquired the Alexandria, Barcroft and Washington Transit Company, which operated in Northern Virginia, and the WMA Transit Company of Prince George's County for $4.5 million.[16] While AB&W and WMA Transit were in better financial condition than DC Transit, their owners did not wish to compete with a publicly owned bus system, and requested a takeover.[21]

In 1979, an organization known as Metro 2001, Inc., planned to write a history of the development of the Metro system for WMATA using such documents as Congressional hearing transcripts, correspondence, and maps. However, this plan, known as the Metro History Project, was abandoned in 1985, and materials that had been collected up until that point (1930-1984) were donated to George Washington University. This collection of materials is currently under the care of GWU's Special Collections Research Center, located in the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library.[22]

In 1998, Congress changed the name of the Washington National Airport to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, though the law did not allocate money to implement the name change. As a result, WMATA did not change the name of the National Airport station (which never included the full name of the airport). In response to repeated inquiries from Republican congressmen that the station be renamed, WMATA stated that stations are renamed only at the request of the local jurisdiction. Since both Arlington County and the District of Columbia were controlled by Democrats, the name change was blocked. Finally, in 2001, Congress made changing the station's name a condition of further federal funding.[23][24][25][26]

Impacts of the Great Recession edit

In response to a demand for immediate repayment of a $43 million debt, WMATA sought a temporary restraining order against the KBC Bank Group. KBC claimed that the WMATA was in technical default of a contract following the collapse of American International Group, which had guaranteed the loan that KBC made to WMATA in 2002. The contract involved the sale to KBC of WMATA's rail cars, which were then leased back to WMATA. The transit agency asked for an injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on October 29, 2008.[27]

After three days of negotiations in federal court, Judge Rosemary M. Collyer announced a settlement on November 14, 2008.[28] WMATA had 14 similar lease agreements with other financial institutions when the KBC case went to trial. Waivers were requested from the banks to allow WMATA time to replace AIG with another insurer or guarantees by the federal government.[29]

In 2009, WMATA issued two new series of municipal bonds bringing its total outstanding bonds to $390.9 million, as of June 30, 2010.[30] This includes $55 million of Build America Bonds issued in 2009 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are partially funded by the federal government.[31]

However, most of the system's debt is financed directly by each local jurisdiction. In addition, WMATA was authorized to receive $202 million in grants from the federal government for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects. The funds are spent in 30 projects which include information technology, facilities maintenance, and vehicles and vehicle parts.[32]

On January 14, 2010, general manager John B. Catoe announced his resignation from Metro, effective April 2, 2010.[33][34] He was replaced on April 3, 2010, by interim general manager Richard Sarles.[16] Sarles became one of three finalists interviewing for the permanent position,[35] and later became the permanent general manager on January 27, 2011.[36] Jack Requa became the interim general manager upon Sarles' retirement January 16, 2015.[37]

Organization edit

Board of directors edit

WMATA was originally set up with a board of directors, of twelve members. Of those, six were voting members, and six were alternates. In response to the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, the WMATA Compact was amended on August 19, 2009, to allow the appointment of four additional board members by the federal government, bringing the total to sixteen.[38]

As of March 2018, there were a total of sixteen board members: eight voting members and eight alternates. Virginia, Maryland, and the District had each appointed two voting members and two alternate members.[39] The Federal Government, through the General Services Administration, is authorized to appoint up to two voting and two alternate members, but had appointed just two voting and one alternate members.[40]

Board members serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses.[41] The board appoints a general manager as CEO to supervise the day-to-day operation of the authority. Under the terms of the "Procedures for WMATA Board of Directors", none of the individual board members, including the chairman, have any power to act regarding the operations of the authority or to issue instructions to the general manager or employees; only the entire board as a body has the power to instruct the general manager.[42] It states, "The authority of the Board of Directors is vested in the collective body and not in its individual Members. Accordingly, the Board, in establishing or providing any policies, orders, guidance, or instructions to the General Manager or WMATA staff, shall act as a body. No Member individually shall direct or supervise the General Manager or any WMATA employee or contractor."[42]

The board approves WMATA's annual budget. The budget was approximately $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2019.[43] That same year also saw 40.3% of revenues coming from capital contributions, 23.2% from passenger revenues, 31.7% from local jurisdiction operations funding, 3.5% from interest income, 1.6% from advertising revenue, 0.9% from rental revenue, and 0.2% from other sources.[43]

As of July 2018, The WMATA board had the following standing committees: Executive, Finance and Capital, Capital & Strategic Planning, and Safety and Operation.[44]

The position of board chairman rotates between the three jurisdictions. Article III Section 5 of the Compact specifies the method of appointment.[38] The Compact prohibits WMATA from paying board members.[45] However, Maryland pays its voting board members $20,000 per year and Virginia pays $50 per meeting. The District of Columbia does not compensate its board members.[46]

Jurisdiction Director Status Appointed[47]
District of Columbia (appointed by the Council of the District of Columbia) Tracey Hadden Loh Principal Director and 2nd Vice Chair November 2021
Vacant Principal Director
Spring Worth Alternate Director December 2022
Vacant Alternate Director
Federal government (appointed by the Secretary of Transportation): Sarah Kline Principal Director September 2021
Kamiliah Martin-Proctor Principal Director September 2021
April Rai Alternate Director December 2022
Bryna Helfer Alternate Director September 2021
Maryland (appointed by the Washington Suburban Transit Commission): Joe McAndrew Principal Director and 1st Vice Chair April 2023
Don Drummer Principal Director May 2021
Thomas Graham Alternate Director June 2019
Michael Goldman Alternate Director December 2022
Virginia (appointed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission): Paul C. Smedberg Principal Director and Chairman January 2019
Matt Letourneau Principal Director March 2019
Canek Aguirre Alternate Director January 2020
Walter Alcorn Alternate Director January 2020


On February 17, 2011, outgoing 2010–11 WMATA Board Chairman Peter Benjamin announced he was leaving the board and would be replaced by former Congressman Michael D. Barnes.[46] The new Governance Committee of the WMATA board, which at the time was chaired by Mary Hynes,[48][49][50] held its first meeting and established a work plan[51] to develop a new relationship between the board and WMATA management. The committee will draft new bylaws that will better define the role and term of the WMATA Board Chairman. The Governance Committee will also draft a code of conduct for board members.[50]

Management edit

The general manager is the chief executive officer of WMATA and leads all staff except that the general counsel, inspector general, and board secretary, who report directly to the board.[52] WMATA has a chief safety officer which reports to the general manager. The safety of the system is independently reviewed by the Tri-State Oversight Committee and the National Transportation Safety Board.[53] On March 4, 2010, the Federal Transit Administration issued an Audit of the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program overseeing Metro which criticised the SSO as being underfunded and poorly trained. In response, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia have increased their SSO funding and training for their employees responsible for safety oversight at Metro.[54]

Jackson Graham, a retired general in the Army Corps of Engineers who supervised the planning and initial construction of the Metrorail system, was the first general manager. Graham retired in 1976, and was replaced by Theodore C. Lutz.[55] Richard S. Page, head of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (the name of the Federal Transit Administration until 1991), took over as general manager of WMATA in 1979.[56] Page resigned in 1983, amid increasing financial difficulties for WMATA.[57] and was replaced by Carmen E. Turner,[58] who served for seven years.[59] Former New York City Transit Authority chief, David L. Gunn, took over as head of WMATA in 1991,[60] followed by Lawrence G. Reuter in 1994,[61] and Richard A. White in 1996.

White led efforts to improve accountability and dialogue with passengers during 2005. This included independent audits, town hall meetings, online chats with White and other management officials, and improved signage in stations. White had three more years in his contract to work for Metro, but had come under fire for mismanagement; however, he was also "widely credited with saving the Metrobus system from collapse and with keeping Metro running during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001."[62] Despite these efforts, however, the board of directors dismissed White on January 11, 2006. Dan Tangherlini replaced White as interim general manager, effective February 16, 2006.[62]

Tangherlini was considered a leading candidate for Metro's top job on a permanent basis before he resigned to work as D.C. City Administrator under Mayor Adrian Fenty. On November 6, 2006, Tangherlini was replaced as interim general manager by Jack Requa, Metro's chief bus manager. John B. Catoe Jr., who was previously the deputy chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, became the agency's eighth permanent general manager on January 25, 2007.[63][64] He resigned three years later following the deadliest crash in the Metrorail system's history.

On April 3, 2010, the board of directors appointed Richard Sarles, former executive director of New Jersey Transit, as interim general manager. Sarles, 65, was offered the position of permanent general manager but declined the appointment at that time.[65] However, on January 27, 2011, the Board announced that Sarles accepted the position as WMATA's permanent general manager.[36]

With Sarles' retirement, the post of general manager was filled by Paul Wiedefeld on November 30, 2015.[66]

On January 18, 2022, WMATA announced that Paul Wiedefeld would be retiring from Metro in 6 months and WMATA's board of directors will be conducting a national search for his replacement.[67] On May 10, 2022, WMATA announced that current president and CEO of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Randy Clarke as its new general manager and CEO beginning in summer 2022.[68] On May 16, 2022, Wiedefeld announced he will retire early with Andy Off being the interim general manager.[69]

Regional coordination edit

The agency's charter directs WMATA to create a unified regional transit system by coordinating other public and private agencies within its jurisdiction.[19] Examples of its coordination efforts include: reducing unnecessary, duplicate services by other local transit systems, providing "SmarTrip" farecards for buses operated by other local transit agencies,[70] and adding local bus schedules and commuter rail routes (such as Maryland's MARC and Virginia's VRE) to WMATA's online "Trip Planner" guide.[71]

Transit Police edit

Congress established the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) on June 4, 1976.[14] MTPD police officers have jurisdiction and arrest powers for crimes that occur throughout the 1,500-square-mile (3,900 km2) Transit Zone that includes Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.[72]

Inspector general edit

The Office of Inspector General was originally authorized by Board Resolution 2006–18, approved by the WMATA Board on April 20, 2006.[73] With the amendments enacted on August 19, 2009, the Office of Inspector General became part of the WMATA Compact.[74] This change was one of the requirements for the $1.5 billion federal grant offered by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008.[75] Helen Lew became the Metro's first Inspector General on May 14, 2007, establishing the WMATA Office of Inspector General. Her appointment by the board of directors replaced the former Auditor General's Office. On April 17, 2017, Geoffrey Cherrington replaced Lew, who retired, as Inspector General,[76] Unlike the Auditor General, the Inspector General and his office report directly to the Board and are organizationally independent of WMATA management.[73]

Services edit

Metrorail edit

Since opening in 1976, the Metrorail network has grown to include six lines, 98 stations, and 129 miles (208 km) of track.[17] As of 2023, it is the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States in average daily ridership after the New York City Subway[77] The record for daily ridership was 1.12 million on January 20, 2009, the day of Barack Obama's first Presidential Inauguration, followed by the Women's March on January 21, 2017, with 1,001,613 trips.[78] In 2016, Metrorail had nearly 180 million trips.[17] Fares vary based on the distance traveled and the time of day. Riders enter and exit the system using a proximity card known as SmarTrip. SmarTrip cards can also be used on a smartphone through Apple Pay and Google Pay.[79] Magnetic stripe tickets stopped being accepted on March 6, 2016.[80] Metrorail's frequency of service and fares vary depending on the available funding, the particular transit line, and the distance traveled.[81]

Metro offers parking for commuters at 44 Metrorail stations. Most lots are on a first-come, first-served basis and fill up quickly each day. Thirty-six stations offer reserved parking, with customers purchasing permits to park in specified spaces. Four Metrorail stations (Greenbelt, Huntington, Franconia–Springfield, and Wiehle-Reston East) have spaces reserved for multi-day parking for up to ten days. Parking fees are paid by SmarTrip card or credit card. Cash payments are not accepted for parking fees.[82]

Metroway edit

 
The Metroway logo
 
Bus 2986, one of the 13 2016 New Flyer XN40s which replaced the 2014 NABI 42 BRTs (8002–8014) that originally ran the route

Metroway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) service that began on August 24, 2014. The first phase is the Crystal City/Potomac Yard Transitway, which operates on Route 1 in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia.[83] It is a 5-mile (8.0 km) corridor with 33 platforms and 20 stations located between Pentagon City and Braddock Road.[84] The first 0.8 mile segment in Alexandria runs on a transit lane only. The Arlington County segment began construction in the summer of 2014 and opened April 17, 2016. Metroway originally operated between the Braddock Road and Crystal City stations and was expanded to Pentagon City in April 2016.[85] Thirteen 2016 New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 CNG buses (2981–2993) operate with the blue-and-white Metroway livery. The original Metroway fleet consisted of thirteen 2014 NABI 42 BRT diesel-electric hybrid buses (8002–8014) until they were all repainted in December 2016. The Metroway service, which is operated by Metrobus' Four Mile Run bus division, features dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, real-time information, custom designed shelters and stations, as well as near-level boarding at station platforms. A Metroway fare costs the same as Metrobus, which is $2.00 (using cash & SmarTrip).

Metrobus edit

Metrobus' fleet consists of 1,505 buses covering an area of 1,500 square miles (3,900 km2) in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.[17] There are 269 bus routes serving 11,129 stops, including 2,554 bus shelters.[17] Metrobus had 130.8 million trips in 2016.[17] On a typical weekday, it provides more than 400,000 trips.[86]

The route numbering represents its region of operation. To differ the regions numbering system, letters for Maryland routes appear before the route number and the ones for Virginia routes appear after it. For example, A12 serves Maryland, and 17M serves Virginia.[87]

MetroAccess edit

MetroAccess is a paratransit service that WMATA provides through private contractors. It began operation in May 1994 and since that time annual ridership has grown from 200,000 to more than 2.4 million passengers. MetroAccess operates 365 days a year, providing door-to-door, shared rides reserved from one to seven days in advance. It is now the sixth-largest paratransit service in the United States with a fleet of more than 600 vehicles and more than 1,000 employees. WMATA staff determines eligibility to use the service in response to written applications. The cost per passenger for MetroAccess is significantly higher than its fixed-route counterparts, and Metro has worked to provide as many opportunities to encourage and facilitate the use of fixed-route transit by its customers with disabilities.

Art in Transit edit

 
The Glory of the Chinese Descendants (2000) by Foon Sham at entrance to Gallery Place-Chinatown station

WMATA includes art works at stations and sometimes on the trains.[88] Thirty-nine stations include artwork.[89] Funding for the art comes from several sources, including the town in which the station is located, the WMATA art program, the Federal Transit Administration, local art groups, and some pieces are gifts or on loan.[89][90] WMATA has solicited feedback from riders concerning art in the stations and to guide choices on future installations.[90]

Funding edit

Fares and other revenue fund 57.6% of the Metro's daily operations while state and local governments fund the remaining 42.4%. Since the Metro's inception, the federal government has provided grants for 65% of the system's capital costs.[17] Metrorail is unusual among major public transportation systems in having no dedicated source of funding.[91] Instead, each year WMATA must ask each local jurisdiction to contribute funding, which is determined by a formula that equally considers three factors:

  1. population density, as of the 2000 Census;
  2. average weekday ridership;
  3. number of stations in each jurisdiction.

Under this formula, the District of Columbia contributes the greatest amount (37.5%), followed by Prince George's County (20.8%), Montgomery County (16.6%), Fairfax County (13.5%), and 11.6% from all other jurisdictions.[92] From time to time, a local jurisdiction will agree to subsidize a specific fare, with the jurisdiction funding the cost of the subsidy in addition to its contribution under the above formula. For example, the District of Columbia subsidized the fares charged at Metrorail stations located in economically challenged neighborhoods.

The cost of Metrobus is allocated under a formula that considers the excess of expenses over revenues from specific bus routes.[93] The cost of MetroAccess is allocated under a different formula, which divides MetroAccess costs by the number of trips requested by riders who reside in each jurisdiction.[93]

In 2004 the Brookings Institution released a report entitled "Deficits by Design" that found the agency's serious budgetary challenges owe in large part to its problematic revenue base.[94] Most notably, Brookings found that WMATA's extraordinary lack of dedicated funding sources has necessitated an over-reliance on annually appropriated support that makes the agency vulnerable to perennial financial crises. As a result, the region's political and business leaders created a committee to look at new ways to fund the system, including some type of dedicated tax.

Title VI of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 16, 2008, authorized a grant of $1.5 billion over a 10-year period for Metrorail capital maintenance projects. The grant was contingent upon the establishment of dedicated revenue sources for the Metro by the Compact jurisdictions.[95] An amendment to the Metro's Compact on August 19, 2009, added the requirement for payments "from dedicated funding sources" by the Compact's participating jurisdictions.[96] In June 2010, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell threatened to withhold Virginia's WMATA funding unless the composition of WMATA's board is modified to allow Virginia's Governor to appoint two of the four Virginia seats, instead of the localities. On June 17, 2010, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff required a formal commitment from Virginia to match its share of the federal funds if the federal funding is to continue.[97] On July 1, 2010, the WMATA Board of Directors agreed to provide matching funds without regard to McDonnell's request for Board seats. Based on this agreement, the federal funds were reconfirmed, and WMATA was able to proceed with a contract to purchase 428 new Metrorail cars.[98] McDonnell pressed for a Board seat again in 2011, and used his amendatory veto authority to amend the 2010-11 budget to require the NVTC to appoint someone of the Governor's choosing to fill one of the NVTC seats on the WMATA Board.[99]

In the course of considering a continuing resolution for federal fiscal year 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives sought to defund all "earmarks" including the $150 million annual installment toward the $1.5 billion in federal matching funds. On February 16, 2011, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) offered an amendment to reallocate $150 million from farm subsidy payments to meet this obligation, but the amendment was ruled out of order.[100] The suspension of the federal appropriation also calls into question the matching funds from the individual jurisdictions for capital projects. On March 1, 2010, Republican Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell wrote to Congress urging the continuation of the federal funds.[101] The continuing resolution for the remainder of 2011 ultimately included the federal matching funds.[102]

On June 24, 2010, WMATA adopted a six-year capital spending plan totalling $5 billion. The plan is funded by the $3 billion from the 2008 Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and increased funding from the participating jurisdictions. The plan includes rebuilding much of its infrastructure for improved safety. The NTSB had recommended replacing Metrorail's oldest series of railcars as not crashworthy, and the spending plan would replace those cars.[103]

The 57% funding of WMATA from fares and other revenue compares with New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority which receives 53% of its funding from fares and car tolls.[104] The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority receives of 31.8% of its funding from fares.[105]

In an effort to gain revenues, WMATA has started to allow retail ventures in Metrorail stations. WMATA has authorized DVD-rental vending machines and ticket booths for the Old Town Trolley Tours and is seeking additional retail tenants.[106]

The WMATA staff preliminary budget for 2011-12 shows an $89 million operating deficit. This deficit can be addressed by fare increases, service reductions, or increased funding from the participating local jurisdictions.[107]

Controversy edit

Safety edit

In recent years, WMATA has drawn criticism for a neglect of safety in both its rail and bus systems. Problems include failures within the system designed to prevent train collisions[108] and escalators failing or breaking apart while in service.[109][110][111] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that WMATA invest $1 billion in needed safety improvements.[112] A December 2008 report by the WMATA Inspector General documented that Metro's System Safety and Risk Management Office was bypassed when changes were made to Metrorail's operating procedures, even though that office's review and approval was required as a matter of policy.[113] On June 22, 2009, two Metrorail trains collided between the Takoma and Fort Totten Metro stations, killing nine. In February 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a public hearing during which witnesses testified about problems with the safety culture at WMATA.[114] The NTSB's final report on the accident commented that "[t]he failure of WMATA engineers and technicians or managers to properly address track circuit anomalies is symptomatic of the larger safety culture issues within the organization."[115]

Safety concerns have grown to the point that the region's Congressional delegation introduced the "National Metro Safety Act of 2011," which would establish federal safety standards for heavy rail mass transit systems.[112] In response, WMATA is replacing its track control system and ordered an immediate inspection of all of its escalators. That inspection showed that over 10 percent of the escalators had faulty brakes.[116]

The service state of elevators and escalators is of public concern. WMATA posts a webpage that is updated daily to notify users of elevator and escalator outages.[117] WMATA makes track announcements that contradict industry safety standards,[118][119] encouraging passengers to "stay clear of moving parts",[118] encouraging people to stand on one side, and slowing the operating speed, which has the effect of encouraging walking on the escalators.

Closed-circuit television cameras monitor every Metrobus and every Metrorail station.[120]

Discrimination edit

In 1990, Christine Townsend sued WMATA in the Washington federal district court on the basis of sexual discrimination. She won, with the court noting in the outcome of Townsend v. Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. that the WMATA explanation had "many unexplained inconsistencies, irregularities, and holes".[121]

Former Metro workers claim that WMATA consistently passes over non-black applicants or workers for employment or promotion.[122]

In May 2015, the WMATA board voted to ban advocacy advertising after the American Freedom Defense Initiative sought to purchase advertisements in five subway stations and on twenty buses depicting Muhammad.[123]

Future expansion edit

WMATA and its local jurisdictions developed a six-year, $5 billion "Capital Improvement Program" (CAP) which took effect on July 1, 2010, and expired on June 30, 2016. Under CAP, the local jurisdictions will fund capital projects (through the sale of municipal bonds) with matching funds provided by the federal government. CAP projects include purchasing new rail cars, rehabilitating three rail lines, replacing three bus garages, implementation of NTSB safety recommendations and purchasing new track maintenance equipment and overhauling Metrorail station elevators and escalators.[105]

Metrorail's newest line was given the color silver. The Silver Line's Phase I extended service to the Tysons Corner area of Virginia, with a further extension planned to Ashburn, Virginia. Phase I through Tysons Corner to Reston (at the Wiehle–Reston East station) opened July 26, 2014,[124] while Phase II to Ashburn, Virginia opened on November 15, 2022. Phase II includes a connection to Dulles International Airport.[125] The Silver Line is financed through toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road as well as a $900 million federal grant and a special taxing district on adjacent commercial properties.[126] In contrast, a proposed new $270-million Potomac Yard station on the Blue and Yellow Lines north of Braddock Road is to be funded by a special taxing district that will cover commercial properties and perhaps residential properties as well.[127] The station opened on May 19, 2023.[128]

There has also been speculation about an extension of the Green Line northward to Baltimore's BWI Airport, There was also talk of extending the Green Line either to National Harbor or to White Plains via Waldorf.[129] An extension from Franconia/Springfield to Fort Belvoir is also a possibility due to the Base Realignment and Closure process which relocated thousands of area defense jobs at Fort Belvoir in 2012. While there has been much discussion about all of these extensions, none are in any official planning stage.[130] There have also been plans to extend the Orange Line to Centreville and Bowie.

Regarding Metrobus improvements, former general manager Sarles reported, "Bus service will benefit from new technology that integrates fare box, destination signage and next bus systems to improve our reliability and customer information delivery. And, we will begin work in certain priority bus corridors that will deliver faster travel times for bus customers. Additionally, I look forward to working with the District of Columbia on potential bus rapid transit service improvements, such as curb running and signal preference to make bus service even more attractive, efficient, and an even more powerful antidote to traffic congestion."[131]

Energy efficiency initiatives edit

WMATA reached an agreement in 2013 with the sustainable lighting division at Philips Electronics North America to switch to LEDs at no upfront cost. WMATA and Philips agreed to a ten-year maintenance contract through the $2 million savings the LEDs will provide each year.[132]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Metro announces location for new headquarters building as major office consolidation plan advances". WMATA. October 30, 2018. from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Metro hires new general manager amid pandemic, safety challenges". The Washington Post. May 10, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  3. ^ MetroForward (April 11, 2013). "WMATA Station Of The Future Concept". Archived from the original on November 16, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT Q1 2023" (PDF). apta.com. (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Schrag (2006), pp. 33–38.
  6. ^ Schrag (2006), p. 39.
  7. ^ Schrag (2006), p. 41.
  8. ^ Schrag (2006), p. 42.
  9. ^ a b Schrag (2006), pp. 53–54.
  10. ^ Schrag (2006), p. 58.
  11. ^ Schrag (2006), p. 59.
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Bibliography edit

  • Schrag, Zachary (2006). The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-8246-X.
  • "Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact" (PDF). WMATA. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  • "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2021 and 2022" (PDF). WMATA. Retrieved March 12, 2023.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Library holdings of books, maps, etc, relating to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
  • Guide To The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Metro History Project Collection, 1930-1984, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University

38°53′52.2″N 77°1′9.9″W / 38.897833°N 77.019417°W / 38.897833; -77.019417

washington, metropolitan, area, transit, authority, passenger, carrier, regulatory, agency, washington, region, washington, metropolitan, area, transit, commission, wmata, ɑː, commonly, referred, metro, jurisdictional, government, organization, that, operates,. For the passenger carrier regulatory agency for the Washington D C region see Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA w e ˈ m ɑː t e we MAH te 3 commonly referred to as Metro is a tri jurisdictional non government organization that operates transit service in the Washington metropolitan area WMATA was created by the United States Congress as an interstate compact between Washington D C Maryland and Virginia Washington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityOld Metro headquarters at the Jackson Graham Building now replaced by a new location at L Enfant Plaza 1 Agency overviewFormedFebruary 20 1967 56 years ago 1967 02 20 Preceding agencyNational Capital Transportation AgencyTypeinterstate compact agencyJurisdictionWashington D C and parts of Maryland and northern VirginiaHeadquarters300 7th Street SW Washington D C U S Agency executiveRandy Clarke 2 Key documentWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CompactWebsitewmata wbr comWMATA provides rapid transit service under the Metrorail name fixed route bus service under the Metrobus brand and paratransit service under the MetroAccess brand In 2022 the system had a ridership of 183 172 500 or about 830 800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023 4 WMATA has its own police force the Metro Transit Police Department The authority s board of directors consists of two voting representatives each from the District of Columbia Maryland Virginia and the U S federal government Each jurisdiction also appoints two alternate representatives WMATA has no independent taxation authority and depends on its member jurisdictions for capital investments and operating funding In addition to ongoing operations WMATA participates in regional transportation planning Recent projects include an infill station serving Potomac Yard an extension of Metrorail to Dulles International Airport and streetcar lines in the District and Northern Virginia Contents 1 History 1 1 Planning and creation 1 2 Metro construction and operation 1 3 Impacts of the Great Recession 2 Organization 2 1 Board of directors 2 2 Management 2 3 Regional coordination 2 4 Transit Police 2 5 Inspector general 3 Services 3 1 Metrorail 3 2 Metroway 3 3 Metrobus 3 4 MetroAccess 4 Art in Transit 5 Funding 6 Controversy 6 1 Safety 6 2 Discrimination 7 Future expansion 8 Energy efficiency initiatives 9 See also 10 References 11 Bibliography 12 External linksHistory editPlanning and creation edit nbsp A New Flyer DE42LFA 6567 Local branded bus at the Ballston MU Metro Station in April 2011 Starting in the mid 19th century the Washington area had been served by a variety of private bus lines and streetcar services including extensions of Northern Virginia trolleys Over time most were absorbed into the Capital Transit Company formed on December 1 1933 by the amalgamation of the Washington Railway and Electric Company Capital Traction and the Washington Rapid Transit bus company Financier Louis Wolfson acquired the company in 1949 but had his franchise revoked in 1955 amidst a crippling strike Congress then awarded a 20 year concession to O Roy Chalk on the condition that he replace the city s remaining streetcars with buses by 1963 The company was thereafter known as DC Transit In that same year the Mass Transportation Survey attempted to forecast both freeway and mass transit systems sufficient to meet the needs of the Washington area in the year 1980 5 In 1959 the study s final report called for the construction of two rapid transit subway lines in downtown Washington 6 Congress responded to the report by enacting the National Capital Transportation Act of 1960 to coordinate future transportation planning for the area 7 The act created a new federal agency called the National Capital Transportation Agency NCTA However the 1959 report also called for extensive freeway construction within the District of Columbia Residents successfully lobbied for a moratorium on freeway construction in what became part of a movement called the freeway revolts 8 The NCTA s November 1962 Transportation in the National Capital Region report included a proposal for an 89 mile 143 km 793 million rail system The total cost of the proposed highway and rail system was less than the 1959 plan due to the elimination of controversial freeways 9 The plan was supported by President Kennedy but opposed by highway advocates in Congress who reduced the rail system to only 23 miles 37 km within the District of Columbia 9 However that proposal was defeated in Congress shortly after President Kennedy s death 10 The Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 passed Congress which promised 66 federal funding for urban mass transportation projects Encouraged by the new act the NCTA recommended the formation of a private entity or a multi state authority to operate the system using more non federal funds 11 On September 8 1965 President Johnson signed the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965 approving the construction of a 25 mile 40 km rapid transit system 12 The NCTA negotiated with Virginia Maryland and the District of Columbia for the formation of a new regional entity The authority was created by an interstate compact a special type of contract or agreement between one or more states Pursuant to the Compact Clause of the U S Constitution any such compact must be approved by Congress 13 After the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact was approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 1965 and passed through the Virginia General Assembly and Congress in 1966 WMATA was founded on February 20 1967 14 As a government agency the compact grants WMATA sovereign immunity by all three jurisdictions in which it operates and except for certain limited exceptions the authority cannot be successfully sued unless it waives immunity 15 Under the provisions of the compact the authority is legally incorporated in the District of Columbia where WMATA maintains its headquarters Metro construction and operation edit nbsp Washington Metro car in 1999 nbsp A Washington Metro Breda 3000 Series car on Blue Line route in October 2005 WMATA broke ground for its train system in 1969 16 The first portion of the Metrorail system opened March 27 1976 connecting Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue on the Red Line 16 17 The 103 miles 166 km of the original 83 station system was completed on January 13 2001 with the opening of Green Line s segment from Anacostia to Branch Avenue 17 WMATA s bus system is a successor to four privately owned bus companies 18 While WMATA s original compact provided only for rail service by 1970 the need for reliable bus services to connect passengers to rail stations led to calls for authority to overhaul the entire bus system as well The compact was amended in 1971 allowing the authority to operate buses and take over bus companies 19 20 After months of negotiation with Chalk failed to produce an agreed price on January 14 1973 WMATA condemned DC Transit and its sister company the Washington Virginia and Maryland Coach Company and acquired their assets for 38 2 million 16 On February 4 it acquired the Alexandria Barcroft and Washington Transit Company which operated in Northern Virginia and the WMA Transit Company of Prince George s County for 4 5 million 16 While AB amp W and WMA Transit were in better financial condition than DC Transit their owners did not wish to compete with a publicly owned bus system and requested a takeover 21 In 1979 an organization known as Metro 2001 Inc planned to write a history of the development of the Metro system for WMATA using such documents as Congressional hearing transcripts correspondence and maps However this plan known as the Metro History Project was abandoned in 1985 and materials that had been collected up until that point 1930 1984 were donated to George Washington University This collection of materials is currently under the care of GWU s Special Collections Research Center located in the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library 22 In 1998 Congress changed the name of the Washington National Airport to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport though the law did not allocate money to implement the name change As a result WMATA did not change the name of the National Airport station which never included the full name of the airport In response to repeated inquiries from Republican congressmen that the station be renamed WMATA stated that stations are renamed only at the request of the local jurisdiction Since both Arlington County and the District of Columbia were controlled by Democrats the name change was blocked Finally in 2001 Congress made changing the station s name a condition of further federal funding 23 24 25 26 Impacts of the Great Recession edit Main article Great Recession In response to a demand for immediate repayment of a 43 million debt WMATA sought a temporary restraining order against the KBC Bank Group KBC claimed that the WMATA was in technical default of a contract following the collapse of American International Group which had guaranteed the loan that KBC made to WMATA in 2002 The contract involved the sale to KBC of WMATA s rail cars which were then leased back to WMATA The transit agency asked for an injunction from the U S District Court for the District of Columbia on October 29 2008 27 After three days of negotiations in federal court Judge Rosemary M Collyer announced a settlement on November 14 2008 28 WMATA had 14 similar lease agreements with other financial institutions when the KBC case went to trial Waivers were requested from the banks to allow WMATA time to replace AIG with another insurer or guarantees by the federal government 29 In 2009 WMATA issued two new series of municipal bonds bringing its total outstanding bonds to 390 9 million as of June 30 2010 30 This includes 55 million of Build America Bonds issued in 2009 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are partially funded by the federal government 31 However most of the system s debt is financed directly by each local jurisdiction In addition WMATA was authorized to receive 202 million in grants from the federal government for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects The funds are spent in 30 projects which include information technology facilities maintenance and vehicles and vehicle parts 32 On January 14 2010 general manager John B Catoe announced his resignation from Metro effective April 2 2010 33 34 He was replaced on April 3 2010 by interim general manager Richard Sarles 16 Sarles became one of three finalists interviewing for the permanent position 35 and later became the permanent general manager on January 27 2011 36 Jack Requa became the interim general manager upon Sarles retirement January 16 2015 37 Organization editBoard of directors edit WMATA was originally set up with a board of directors of twelve members Of those six were voting members and six were alternates In response to the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 the WMATA Compact was amended on August 19 2009 to allow the appointment of four additional board members by the federal government bringing the total to sixteen 38 As of March 2018 update there were a total of sixteen board members eight voting members and eight alternates Virginia Maryland and the District had each appointed two voting members and two alternate members 39 The Federal Government through the General Services Administration is authorized to appoint up to two voting and two alternate members but had appointed just two voting and one alternate members 40 Board members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for actual expenses 41 The board appoints a general manager as CEO to supervise the day to day operation of the authority Under the terms of the Procedures for WMATA Board of Directors none of the individual board members including the chairman have any power to act regarding the operations of the authority or to issue instructions to the general manager or employees only the entire board as a body has the power to instruct the general manager 42 It states The authority of the Board of Directors is vested in the collective body and not in its individual Members Accordingly the Board in establishing or providing any policies orders guidance or instructions to the General Manager or WMATA staff shall act as a body No Member individually shall direct or supervise the General Manager or any WMATA employee or contractor 42 The board approves WMATA s annual budget The budget was approximately 3 1 billion in fiscal year 2019 43 That same year also saw 40 3 of revenues coming from capital contributions 23 2 from passenger revenues 31 7 from local jurisdiction operations funding 3 5 from interest income 1 6 from advertising revenue 0 9 from rental revenue and 0 2 from other sources 43 As of July 2018 The WMATA board had the following standing committees Executive Finance and Capital Capital amp Strategic Planning and Safety and Operation 44 The position of board chairman rotates between the three jurisdictions Article III Section 5 of the Compact specifies the method of appointment 38 The Compact prohibits WMATA from paying board members 45 However Maryland pays its voting board members 20 000 per year and Virginia pays 50 per meeting The District of Columbia does not compensate its board members 46 Jurisdiction Director Status Appointed 47 District of Columbia appointed by the Council of the District of Columbia Tracey Hadden Loh Principal Director and 2nd Vice Chair November 2021Vacant Principal DirectorSpring Worth Alternate Director December 2022Vacant Alternate DirectorFederal government appointed by the Secretary of Transportation Sarah Kline Principal Director September 2021Kamiliah Martin Proctor Principal Director September 2021April Rai Alternate Director December 2022Bryna Helfer Alternate Director September 2021Maryland appointed by the Washington Suburban Transit Commission Joe McAndrew Principal Director and 1st Vice Chair April 2023Don Drummer Principal Director May 2021Thomas Graham Alternate Director June 2019Michael Goldman Alternate Director December 2022Virginia appointed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Paul C Smedberg Principal Director and Chairman January 2019Matt Letourneau Principal Director March 2019Canek Aguirre Alternate Director January 2020Walter Alcorn Alternate Director January 2020On February 17 2011 outgoing 2010 11 WMATA Board Chairman Peter Benjamin announced he was leaving the board and would be replaced by former Congressman Michael D Barnes 46 The new Governance Committee of the WMATA board which at the time was chaired by Mary Hynes 48 49 50 held its first meeting and established a work plan 51 to develop a new relationship between the board and WMATA management The committee will draft new bylaws that will better define the role and term of the WMATA Board Chairman The Governance Committee will also draft a code of conduct for board members 50 Management edit The general manager is the chief executive officer of WMATA and leads all staff except that the general counsel inspector general and board secretary who report directly to the board 52 WMATA has a chief safety officer which reports to the general manager The safety of the system is independently reviewed by the Tri State Oversight Committee and the National Transportation Safety Board 53 On March 4 2010 the Federal Transit Administration issued an Audit of the State Safety Oversight SSO program overseeing Metro which criticised the SSO as being underfunded and poorly trained In response Virginia Maryland and the District of Columbia have increased their SSO funding and training for their employees responsible for safety oversight at Metro 54 Jackson Graham a retired general in the Army Corps of Engineers who supervised the planning and initial construction of the Metrorail system was the first general manager Graham retired in 1976 and was replaced by Theodore C Lutz 55 Richard S Page head of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration the name of the Federal Transit Administration until 1991 took over as general manager of WMATA in 1979 56 Page resigned in 1983 amid increasing financial difficulties for WMATA 57 and was replaced by Carmen E Turner 58 who served for seven years 59 Former New York City Transit Authority chief David L Gunn took over as head of WMATA in 1991 60 followed by Lawrence G Reuter in 1994 61 and Richard A White in 1996 White led efforts to improve accountability and dialogue with passengers during 2005 This included independent audits town hall meetings online chats with White and other management officials and improved signage in stations White had three more years in his contract to work for Metro but had come under fire for mismanagement however he was also widely credited with saving the Metrobus system from collapse and with keeping Metro running during the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 2001 62 Despite these efforts however the board of directors dismissed White on January 11 2006 Dan Tangherlini replaced White as interim general manager effective February 16 2006 62 Tangherlini was considered a leading candidate for Metro s top job on a permanent basis before he resigned to work as D C City Administrator under Mayor Adrian Fenty On November 6 2006 Tangherlini was replaced as interim general manager by Jack Requa Metro s chief bus manager John B Catoe Jr who was previously the deputy chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority became the agency s eighth permanent general manager on January 25 2007 63 64 He resigned three years later following the deadliest crash in the Metrorail system s history On April 3 2010 the board of directors appointed Richard Sarles former executive director of New Jersey Transit as interim general manager Sarles 65 was offered the position of permanent general manager but declined the appointment at that time 65 However on January 27 2011 the Board announced that Sarles accepted the position as WMATA s permanent general manager 36 With Sarles retirement the post of general manager was filled by Paul Wiedefeld on November 30 2015 66 On January 18 2022 WMATA announced that Paul Wiedefeld would be retiring from Metro in 6 months and WMATA s board of directors will be conducting a national search for his replacement 67 On May 10 2022 WMATA announced that current president and CEO of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Randy Clarke as its new general manager and CEO beginning in summer 2022 68 On May 16 2022 Wiedefeld announced he will retire early with Andy Off being the interim general manager 69 Regional coordination edit The agency s charter directs WMATA to create a unified regional transit system by coordinating other public and private agencies within its jurisdiction 19 Examples of its coordination efforts include reducing unnecessary duplicate services by other local transit systems providing SmarTrip farecards for buses operated by other local transit agencies 70 and adding local bus schedules and commuter rail routes such as Maryland s MARC and Virginia s VRE to WMATA s online Trip Planner guide 71 Transit Police edit Main article Metro Transit Police Department Congress established the Metro Transit Police Department MTPD on June 4 1976 14 MTPD police officers have jurisdiction and arrest powers for crimes that occur throughout the 1 500 square mile 3 900 km2 Transit Zone that includes Maryland Virginia and the District of Columbia 72 Inspector general edit The Office of Inspector General was originally authorized by Board Resolution 2006 18 approved by the WMATA Board on April 20 2006 73 With the amendments enacted on August 19 2009 the Office of Inspector General became part of the WMATA Compact 74 This change was one of the requirements for the 1 5 billion federal grant offered by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 75 Helen Lew became the Metro s first Inspector General on May 14 2007 establishing the WMATA Office of Inspector General Her appointment by the board of directors replaced the former Auditor General s Office On April 17 2017 Geoffrey Cherrington replaced Lew who retired as Inspector General 76 Unlike the Auditor General the Inspector General and his office report directly to the Board and are organizationally independent of WMATA management 73 Services editMetrorail edit Main article Washington Metro Since opening in 1976 the Metrorail network has grown to include six lines 98 stations and 129 miles 208 km of track 17 As of 2023 it is the second busiest rapid transit system in the United States in average daily ridership after the New York City Subway 77 The record for daily ridership was 1 12 million on January 20 2009 the day of Barack Obama s first Presidential Inauguration followed by the Women s March on January 21 2017 with 1 001 613 trips 78 In 2016 Metrorail had nearly 180 million trips 17 Fares vary based on the distance traveled and the time of day Riders enter and exit the system using a proximity card known as SmarTrip SmarTrip cards can also be used on a smartphone through Apple Pay and Google Pay 79 Magnetic stripe tickets stopped being accepted on March 6 2016 80 Metrorail s frequency of service and fares vary depending on the available funding the particular transit line and the distance traveled 81 Metro offers parking for commuters at 44 Metrorail stations Most lots are on a first come first served basis and fill up quickly each day Thirty six stations offer reserved parking with customers purchasing permits to park in specified spaces Four Metrorail stations Greenbelt Huntington Franconia Springfield and Wiehle Reston East have spaces reserved for multi day parking for up to ten days Parking fees are paid by SmarTrip card or credit card Cash payments are not accepted for parking fees 82 Metroway edit Main article Metroway Metroway nbsp The Metroway logo nbsp Bus 2986 one of the 13 2016 New Flyer XN40s which replaced the 2014 NABI 42 BRTs 8002 8014 that originally ran the route Metroway is a bus rapid transit BRT service that began on August 24 2014 The first phase is the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway which operates on Route 1 in Arlington and Alexandria Virginia 83 It is a 5 mile 8 0 km corridor with 33 platforms and 20 stations located between Pentagon City and Braddock Road 84 The first 0 8 mile segment in Alexandria runs on a transit lane only The Arlington County segment began construction in the summer of 2014 and opened April 17 2016 Metroway originally operated between the Braddock Road and Crystal City stations and was expanded to Pentagon City in April 2016 85 Thirteen 2016 New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 CNG buses 2981 2993 operate with the blue and white Metroway livery The original Metroway fleet consisted of thirteen 2014 NABI 42 BRT diesel electric hybrid buses 8002 8014 until they were all repainted in December 2016 The Metroway service which is operated by Metrobus Four Mile Run bus division features dedicated bus lanes transit signal priority real time information custom designed shelters and stations as well as near level boarding at station platforms A Metroway fare costs the same as Metrobus which is 2 00 using cash amp SmarTrip Metrobus edit Main articles Metrobus Washington D C and List of Metrobus routes Washington D C Metrobus fleet consists of 1 505 buses covering an area of 1 500 square miles 3 900 km2 in Washington D C Maryland and Virginia 17 There are 269 bus routes serving 11 129 stops including 2 554 bus shelters 17 Metrobus had 130 8 million trips in 2016 17 On a typical weekday it provides more than 400 000 trips 86 The route numbering represents its region of operation To differ the regions numbering system letters for Maryland routes appear before the route number and the ones for Virginia routes appear after it For example A12 serves Maryland and 17M serves Virginia 87 MetroAccess edit Main article MetroAccess MetroAccess is a paratransit service that WMATA provides through private contractors It began operation in May 1994 and since that time annual ridership has grown from 200 000 to more than 2 4 million passengers MetroAccess operates 365 days a year providing door to door shared rides reserved from one to seven days in advance It is now the sixth largest paratransit service in the United States with a fleet of more than 600 vehicles and more than 1 000 employees WMATA staff determines eligibility to use the service in response to written applications The cost per passenger for MetroAccess is significantly higher than its fixed route counterparts and Metro has worked to provide as many opportunities to encourage and facilitate the use of fixed route transit by its customers with disabilities Art in Transit edit nbsp The Glory of the Chinese Descendants 2000 by Foon Sham at entrance to Gallery Place Chinatown stationWMATA includes art works at stations and sometimes on the trains 88 Thirty nine stations include artwork 89 Funding for the art comes from several sources including the town in which the station is located the WMATA art program the Federal Transit Administration local art groups and some pieces are gifts or on loan 89 90 WMATA has solicited feedback from riders concerning art in the stations and to guide choices on future installations 90 Funding editThis section s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information March 2023 Fares and other revenue fund 57 6 of the Metro s daily operations while state and local governments fund the remaining 42 4 Since the Metro s inception the federal government has provided grants for 65 of the system s capital costs 17 Metrorail is unusual among major public transportation systems in having no dedicated source of funding 91 Instead each year WMATA must ask each local jurisdiction to contribute funding which is determined by a formula that equally considers three factors population density as of the 2000 Census average weekday ridership number of stations in each jurisdiction Under this formula the District of Columbia contributes the greatest amount 37 5 followed by Prince George s County 20 8 Montgomery County 16 6 Fairfax County 13 5 and 11 6 from all other jurisdictions 92 From time to time a local jurisdiction will agree to subsidize a specific fare with the jurisdiction funding the cost of the subsidy in addition to its contribution under the above formula For example the District of Columbia subsidized the fares charged at Metrorail stations located in economically challenged neighborhoods The cost of Metrobus is allocated under a formula that considers the excess of expenses over revenues from specific bus routes 93 The cost of MetroAccess is allocated under a different formula which divides MetroAccess costs by the number of trips requested by riders who reside in each jurisdiction 93 In 2004 the Brookings Institution released a report entitled Deficits by Design that found the agency s serious budgetary challenges owe in large part to its problematic revenue base 94 Most notably Brookings found that WMATA s extraordinary lack of dedicated funding sources has necessitated an over reliance on annually appropriated support that makes the agency vulnerable to perennial financial crises As a result the region s political and business leaders created a committee to look at new ways to fund the system including some type of dedicated tax Title VI of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 signed into law by President George W Bush on October 16 2008 authorized a grant of 1 5 billion over a 10 year period for Metrorail capital maintenance projects The grant was contingent upon the establishment of dedicated revenue sources for the Metro by the Compact jurisdictions 95 An amendment to the Metro s Compact on August 19 2009 added the requirement for payments from dedicated funding sources by the Compact s participating jurisdictions 96 In June 2010 Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell threatened to withhold Virginia s WMATA funding unless the composition of WMATA s board is modified to allow Virginia s Governor to appoint two of the four Virginia seats instead of the localities On June 17 2010 Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff required a formal commitment from Virginia to match its share of the federal funds if the federal funding is to continue 97 On July 1 2010 the WMATA Board of Directors agreed to provide matching funds without regard to McDonnell s request for Board seats Based on this agreement the federal funds were reconfirmed and WMATA was able to proceed with a contract to purchase 428 new Metrorail cars 98 McDonnell pressed for a Board seat again in 2011 and used his amendatory veto authority to amend the 2010 11 budget to require the NVTC to appoint someone of the Governor s choosing to fill one of the NVTC seats on the WMATA Board 99 In the course of considering a continuing resolution for federal fiscal year 2011 the U S House of Representatives sought to defund all earmarks including the 150 million annual installment toward the 1 5 billion in federal matching funds On February 16 2011 Rep Gerry Connolly D Va offered an amendment to reallocate 150 million from farm subsidy payments to meet this obligation but the amendment was ruled out of order 100 The suspension of the federal appropriation also calls into question the matching funds from the individual jurisdictions for capital projects On March 1 2010 Republican Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell wrote to Congress urging the continuation of the federal funds 101 The continuing resolution for the remainder of 2011 ultimately included the federal matching funds 102 On June 24 2010 WMATA adopted a six year capital spending plan totalling 5 billion The plan is funded by the 3 billion from the 2008 Act the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and increased funding from the participating jurisdictions The plan includes rebuilding much of its infrastructure for improved safety The NTSB had recommended replacing Metrorail s oldest series of railcars as not crashworthy and the spending plan would replace those cars 103 The 57 funding of WMATA from fares and other revenue compares with New York City s Metropolitan Transportation Authority which receives 53 of its funding from fares and car tolls 104 The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority receives of 31 8 of its funding from fares 105 In an effort to gain revenues WMATA has started to allow retail ventures in Metrorail stations WMATA has authorized DVD rental vending machines and ticket booths for the Old Town Trolley Tours and is seeking additional retail tenants 106 The WMATA staff preliminary budget for 2011 12 shows an 89 million operating deficit This deficit can be addressed by fare increases service reductions or increased funding from the participating local jurisdictions 107 Controversy editSafety edit This section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information December 2022 In recent years WMATA has drawn criticism for a neglect of safety in both its rail and bus systems Problems include failures within the system designed to prevent train collisions 108 and escalators failing or breaking apart while in service 109 110 111 The National Transportation Safety Board NTSB has recommended that WMATA invest 1 billion in needed safety improvements 112 A December 2008 report by the WMATA Inspector General documented that Metro s System Safety and Risk Management Office was bypassed when changes were made to Metrorail s operating procedures even though that office s review and approval was required as a matter of policy 113 On June 22 2009 two Metrorail trains collided between the Takoma and Fort Totten Metro stations killing nine In February 2011 the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a public hearing during which witnesses testified about problems with the safety culture at WMATA 114 The NTSB s final report on the accident commented that t he failure of WMATA engineers and technicians or managers to properly address track circuit anomalies is symptomatic of the larger safety culture issues within the organization 115 Safety concerns have grown to the point that the region s Congressional delegation introduced the National Metro Safety Act of 2011 which would establish federal safety standards for heavy rail mass transit systems 112 In response WMATA is replacing its track control system and ordered an immediate inspection of all of its escalators That inspection showed that over 10 percent of the escalators had faulty brakes 116 The service state of elevators and escalators is of public concern WMATA posts a webpage that is updated daily to notify users of elevator and escalator outages 117 WMATA makes track announcements that contradict industry safety standards 118 119 encouraging passengers to stay clear of moving parts 118 encouraging people to stand on one side and slowing the operating speed which has the effect of encouraging walking on the escalators Closed circuit television cameras monitor every Metrobus and every Metrorail station 120 Discrimination edit In 1990 Christine Townsend sued WMATA in the Washington federal district court on the basis of sexual discrimination She won with the court noting in the outcome of Townsend v Washington Metro Area Transit Auth that the WMATA explanation had many unexplained inconsistencies irregularities and holes 121 Former Metro workers claim that WMATA consistently passes over non black applicants or workers for employment or promotion 122 In May 2015 the WMATA board voted to ban advocacy advertising after the American Freedom Defense Initiative sought to purchase advertisements in five subway stations and on twenty buses depicting Muhammad 123 Future expansion editSee also Washington Metro Future expansion WMATA and its local jurisdictions developed a six year 5 billion Capital Improvement Program CAP which took effect on July 1 2010 and expired on June 30 2016 Under CAP the local jurisdictions will fund capital projects through the sale of municipal bonds with matching funds provided by the federal government CAP projects include purchasing new rail cars rehabilitating three rail lines replacing three bus garages implementation of NTSB safety recommendations and purchasing new track maintenance equipment and overhauling Metrorail station elevators and escalators 105 Metrorail s newest line was given the color silver The Silver Line s Phase I extended service to the Tysons Corner area of Virginia with a further extension planned to Ashburn Virginia Phase I through Tysons Corner to Reston at the Wiehle Reston East station opened July 26 2014 124 while Phase II to Ashburn Virginia opened on November 15 2022 Phase II includes a connection to Dulles International Airport 125 The Silver Line is financed through toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road as well as a 900 million federal grant and a special taxing district on adjacent commercial properties 126 In contrast a proposed new 270 million Potomac Yard station on the Blue and Yellow Lines north of Braddock Road is to be funded by a special taxing district that will cover commercial properties and perhaps residential properties as well 127 The station opened on May 19 2023 128 There has also been speculation about an extension of the Green Line northward to Baltimore s BWI Airport There was also talk of extending the Green Line either to National Harbor or to White Plains via Waldorf 129 An extension from Franconia Springfield to Fort Belvoir is also a possibility due to the Base Realignment and Closure process which relocated thousands of area defense jobs at Fort Belvoir in 2012 While there has been much discussion about all of these extensions none are in any official planning stage 130 There have also been plans to extend the Orange Line to Centreville and Bowie Regarding Metrobus improvements former general manager Sarles reported Bus service will benefit from new technology that integrates fare box destination signage and next bus systems to improve our reliability and customer information delivery And we will begin work in certain priority bus corridors that will deliver faster travel times for bus customers Additionally I look forward to working with the District of Columbia on potential bus rapid transit service improvements such as curb running and signal preference to make bus service even more attractive efficient and an even more powerful antidote to traffic congestion 131 Energy efficiency initiatives editWMATA reached an agreement in 2013 with the sustainable lighting division at Philips Electronics North America to switch to LEDs at no upfront cost WMATA and Philips agreed to a ten year maintenance contract through the 2 million savings the LEDs will provide each year 132 See also editList of railroads in Washington D C Washington Metro List of United States railroads Metrobus Washington D C MetroAccess SmarTrip payment system for use of Metro transportation and Metro parkingReferences edit Metro announces location for new headquarters building as major office consolidation plan advances WMATA October 30 2018 Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved June 11 2022 Metro hires new general manager amid pandemic safety challenges The Washington Post May 10 2022 Retrieved June 11 2022 MetroForward April 11 2013 WMATA Station Of The Future Concept Archived from the original on November 16 2021 via YouTube PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT Q1 2023 PDF apta com Archived PDF from the original on June 12 2023 Schrag 2006 pp 33 38 Schrag 2006 p 39 Schrag 2006 p 41 Schrag 2006 p 42 a b Schrag 2006 pp 53 54 Schrag 2006 p 58 Schrag 2006 p 59 Schrag 2006 p 63 An interstate compact must either be explicitly or implicitly approved by Congress see Virginia v Tennessee 148 U S 503 1893 a b WMATA 2009 p i Watters v Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority 2002 Archived from the original on June 29 2009 Retrieved January 8 2009 295 F 3d 36 a b c d e WMATA History PDF WMATA Archived from the original PDF on July 1 2017 Retrieved February 3 2011 a b c d e f g h Sequence of Metrorail openings PDF Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 2017 p 3 Archived from the original PDF on June 12 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 Metro Funds Requested The Washington Post January 15 1988 p C5 a b WMATA 2009 p 20 Schrag 2006 p 176 Schrag 2006 pp 175 76 Guide to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metro History Project Collection 1930 1984 Special Collections Research Center Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library George Washington University Archived from the original on June 15 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 Schrag 2006 p 258 Layton Lyndsey April 20 2001 GOP Ups Pressure on Metro The Washington Post Layton Lyndsey December 1 2001 House Votes to Require Reagan at Metro Stop The Washington Post H R 2299 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2002 Bill 345 Act of November 30 2001 Retrieved March 28 2018 Archived March 29 2018 at the Wayback Machine Funk Lynne Dutton Audrey November 13 2008 Judge Urges KBC WMATA to Settle The Bond Buyer Archived from the original on June 9 2011 Retrieved January 16 2011 Fun Lynne November 17 2008 KBC WMATA Reach Agreement The Bond Buyer Archived from the original on June 9 2011 Retrieved January 16 2011 Metro settlement reached in leaseback deal Press release WMATA November 14 2008 Archived from the original on July 17 2022 Retrieved January 16 2011 WMATA 2010 p 37 sfnp error no target CITEREFWMATA2010 help WMATA 2010 p 39 sfnp error no target CITEREFWMATA2010 help Economic Stimulus Program WMATA Archived from the original on December 20 2010 Retrieved January 1 2011 Metro GM Catoe announces resignation WTOP January 14 2010 Archived from the original on June 11 2011 Retrieved January 14 2010 Metro General Manager John Catoe to retire Press release WMATA January 14 2010 Archived from the original on July 17 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Scott Tyson Ann January 16 2011 Metro talks with Sarles 2 more for top job The Washington Post p C6 a b Metro names chief executive and board members The Washington Post January 27 2011 Archived from the original on January 30 2017 Retrieved October 3 2011 Metro Board appoints Requa as Interim General Manager CEO Green Ellison as Board Corporate Secretary Press release WMATA January 8 2015 Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 a b WMATA 2009 p 2 Board of Directors WMATA Archived from the original on July 13 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Fiscal Year 2014 Approved Budget PDF WMATA July 1 2013 pp 5 6 Archived PDF from the original on July 10 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 WMATA 2009 p 3 a b Procedures of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors PDF April 28 2016 Archived PDF from the original on October 27 2020 Retrieved March 28 2018 a b WMATA 2017 p ix sfnp error no target CITEREFWMATA2017 help Board Committee Assignments Effective July 12 2018 WMATA July 12 2018 Archived from the original on August 28 2018 Retrieved August 27 2018 WMATA 2009 p 4 a b Benjamin to leave Metro board The Washington Post February 17 2011 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved March 2 2011 Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority October 13 2023 Board of Directors Biographies Retrieved October 13 2023 WMATA board meeting January 27 2011 Mary Hynes on bag search issue retrieved March 28 2023 Metro News Release WMATA www wmata com Retrieved March 28 2023 a b Scott Tyson Ann February 18 2011 Metro board considers its future and how agency should be run The Washington Post Archived from the original on September 29 2018 Retrieved March 2 2011 WMATA Governance Committee Work Plan PDF WMATA Archived from the original PDF on July 18 2011 Retrieved March 2 2011 Metro Organization Chart WMATA Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Responding to Safety Oversight WMATA Archived from the original on December 2 2010 Retrieved February 1 2011 SSO Audit Finding Status PDF August 13 2010 Archived from the original PDF on December 26 2010 Retrieved February 1 2011 Schrag 2006 pp 186 87 Feaver Douglas B March 23 1979 DOT Official Is Named to Head Metro U S Mass Transit Chief Is Named to Head Metro The Washington Post Lynton Stephen J April 3 1983 Page Is Resigning As Metro Manager After Four Years The Washington Post Lynton Stephen J July 1 1983 Metro Board Names Turner As Transit System s Manager The Washington Post Kastor Elizabeth Fehr Stephen C October 3 1990 Metro s Top Official to Join Smithsonian The Washington Post Fehr Stephen C February 22 1991 New Metro Chief Welcomes Challenge Gunn Takes Helm of System as Problems of Age and Cost Loom The Washington Post Fehr Stephen C January 31 1994 Board Pins Hopes On Next Metro Chief Reuter Seen as a Superior Negotiator The Washington Post a b Layton Lyndsey January 12 2006 Metro Drops Longtime Manager The Washington Post Archived from the original on March 16 2017 Retrieved January 16 2011 Sun Lena H November 14 2006 Metro Picks L A Official D C Native As Manager The Washington Post p A01 Archived from the original on July 11 2018 Retrieved November 15 2006 Veteran Transit Executive John B Catoe Jr appointed Metro s next general manager Press release WMATA January 25 2007 Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 News Report WRC TV Channel 4 News at 5 March 16 2010 General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J Wiedefeld Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority November 30 2015 Archived from the original on January 23 2016 Retrieved January 25 2016 Metro Board announces retirement of General Manager CEO Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority January 18 2022 Archived from the original on May 17 2022 Retrieved January 18 2022 WMATA s Board of Directors Selects Randy Clarke as its New General Manager and CEO WMATA www wmata com Archived from the original on May 17 2022 Retrieved May 17 2022 Statement from Metro GM CEO Paul Wiedefeld WMATA www wmata com Archived from the original on May 17 2022 Retrieved May 17 2022 SmarTrip users to gain added benefit when transferring WMATA November 24 2008 Archived from the original on March 29 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 Trip Planner WMATA Archived from the original on June 19 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Metro Transit Police WMATA Archived from the original on May 9 2021 Retrieved March 28 2018 a b Semiannual Report to the Board of Directors No 5 PDF WMATA Office of the Inspector General February 9 2010 Archived PDF from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 WMATA 2009 pp 3 4 WMATA 2009 Metro Board names Geoffrey Cherrington Inspector General WMATA www wmata com Archived from the original on August 28 2018 Retrieved February 22 2020 Public Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2023 PDF American Public Transportation Association September 13 2023 Retrieved October 31 2023 Powers Martine January 23 2017 Top 10 Metro Ridership Days Can you guess what they are Washington Post Archived from the original on December 10 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 As riders return Metro customers have more ways to pay with the launch of SmarTrip for Android in Google Pay WMATA www wmata com Archived from the original on July 17 2022 Retrieved July 7 2021 Metro is going Paperless WMATA Archived from the original on August 26 2016 Retrieved March 28 2018 Timetables WMATA Archived from the original on January 24 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 Parking WMATA WMATA Archived from the original on January 26 2017 Retrieved September 5 2020 Lazo Luz August 23 2014 Metroway the region s first bus rapid transit to debut in Northern Virginia The Washington Post Archived from the original on December 18 2014 Retrieved December 18 2014 Route Metroway Archived from the original on December 18 2014 Retrieved December 18 2014 Smith Max April 17 2016 New bus only lanes open along Jefferson Davis Highway WTOP WTOP Archived from the original on July 16 2016 Retrieved April 18 2016 Metrobus Monthly Ridership June 2017 Preliminary PDF WMATA June 2017 Archived PDF from the original on July 10 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Rowlands DW 8W 30N U7 How Metrobus numbers came to be Greater Greater Washington Archived from the original on November 9 2020 Retrieved June 26 2019 Art in Transit WMATA 2021 Archived from the original on July 9 2022 Retrieved January 11 2021 a b Stations with Artwork WMATA 2021 Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved January 11 2021 a b Kunkle Frederick January 31 2019 Do you like the artwork in Metro stations How about the music The Washington Post Archived from the original on July 12 2019 Retrieved January 11 2021 McCartney Robert Duggan Paul April 24 2016 Metro sank into crisis despite decades of warnings The Washington Post Archived from the original on February 19 2019 Retrieved August 14 2016 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30 2018 AND 2017 2018 p 52 sfnp error no target CITEREFWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30 2018 AND 20172018 help a b WMATA 2017 sfnp error no target CITEREFWMATA2017 help Puentes Robert 2004 Washington s Metro Deficits by Design The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Public Law 110 432 Federal Rail Safety Improvements Division B Title VI Section 601 U S Government Printing Office Archived from the original on September 11 2019 Retrieved March 28 2018 WMATA 2009 p 9 Rein Lisa Kumar Anita Va could jeopardize Metro plan The Washington Post p B5 Rein Lisa Kumar Anita July 2 2010 Metro s directors back 300 million accord with Va The Washington Post p B4 Kumar Anita April 7 2011 McDonnell to appoint a Northern Virginian to Metro Board The Washington Post Archived from the original on November 27 2018 Retrieved April 16 2011 Metro Funding Derailed in House Budget bill drops safety funding for transit system NBC News4 National Broadcasting Company February 16 2011 Archived from the original on November 18 2018 Retrieved March 2 2011 Sherfinski David March 4 2011 McDonnell to Congress Preserve Metro funding Washington Examiner Retrieved April 11 2011 permanent dead link Rucker Philip April 12 2011 Budget deal Cuts of 38 billion include accounting gimmicks target Obama priorities The Washington Post Archived from the original on April 10 2022 Retrieved April 16 2011 Metro Board approves 5 billion six year capital spending plan to fund vital safety improvements infrastructure upgrades Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority June 24 2010 Archived from the original on December 26 2010 Retrieved April 19 2011 MTA 2011 Adopted Budget February Financial Plan 2011 2014 PDF Metropolitan Transportation Authority Archived PDF from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved July 19 2016 a b MARTA subsidy claim derailed by facts PolitiFact Georgia May 18 2012 Archived from the original on November 16 2018 Retrieved March 28 2018 Metro launches retail at Smithsonian Metrorail station WMATA Archived from the original on August 19 2016 Retrieved April 7 2011 Bolden Michael November 2 2010 Metro predicts another budget deficit The Washington Post Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved April 16 2011 Safety Recommendation PDF National Transportation Safety Board September 22 2009 Archived from the original PDF on December 27 2010 Retrieved April 16 2011 Houston Karen November 1 2010 4 Hurt in Metro Escalator Accident Fox News DC Archived from the original on April 12 2012 Retrieved April 16 2011 Horrific Metro Escalator Accident Repair Woes Increasing WMAL Archived from the original on July 22 2011 Retrieved April 16 2011 Schriffen John February 18 2011 Part of Foggy Bottom Metro Escalator Collapses Report NBC News Washington Archived from the original on July 5 2018 Retrieved April 16 2011 a b Washington Area Delegation Reintroduces National Metro Safety Act of 2011 U S House of Representatives March 31 2011 Archived from the original on January 8 2013 Retrieved April 16 2011 McElhatton Jim March 7 2011 Metro safety officials not informed about system modifications Washington Times Archived from the original on May 16 2022 Retrieved April 16 2011 Weir Kytja February 24 2010 Metro safety culture under attack at NTSB hearing Washington Examiner Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved February 27 2013 Railroad Accident Report Collision of Two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail Trains Near Fort Totten Station Washington D C June 22 2009 PDF National Transportation Safety Board October 27 2010 archived PDF from the original on May 16 2022 retrieved June 29 2020 Ten percent of Metro escalators found to have faulty brakes Washington Examiner November 19 2010 Archived from the original on July 30 2012 Retrieved March 16 2011 Elevator amp Escalator Service Status WMATA Archived from the original on July 12 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 a b WMATA Escalator Elevator Safety Tips WMATA Archived from the original on May 20 2022 Retrieved May 14 2018 Metro Risks Passenger Safety by Encouraging Standing on the Side of their Escalators Archived from the original on March 16 2022 Retrieved May 14 2018 WMATA Security Archived from the original on November 7 2014 Retrieved February 22 2020 TOWNSEND v WASHINGTON ME 746 F Supp 178 1990 supp1781895 Leagle com Leagle Archived from the original on February 22 2020 Retrieved February 22 2020 Rosiak Luke Metro derailed by culture of complacence incompetence lack of diversity The Washington Times Archived from the original on July 17 2022 Retrieved March 29 2018 Duggan Paul May 28 2015 Metro says no to issue oriented ads The Washington Post Archived from the original on May 18 2021 Retrieved June 9 2015 Metro Announces Silver Line Opening Date www wmata com Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Archived from the original on July 23 2014 Retrieved July 24 2014 Silver Line extension opens adding six stations Dulles connection after years of delays The Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Archived from the original on November 17 2022 Retrieved November 17 2022 Exhibit 3 to MWAA Toll Rate Increase Hearing PDF Archived PDF from the original on December 16 2010 Retrieved December 19 2009 Giles Ben December 21 2010 Alexandria approves new source for Metro funds Washington Examiner Archived from the original on July 22 2011 Retrieved April 11 2011 Laris Michael May 19 2023 Potomac Yard Metro station decades in the making opens in Alexandria Washington Post Retrieved May 19 2023 Paley Amit R April 10 2006 Plan for Metro to BWI Gaining Momentum Dulles Rail Extension Spurs Md to Action The Washington Post p B1 ProQuest 410013668 Smith Leef May 20 2005 Metro Studies Ft Belvoir Extension The Washington Post p B01 Archived from the original on March 16 2017 Retrieved September 18 2017 Remarks by Richard R Sarles upon his appointment as Metro s General Manager Chief Executive Officer Press release WMATA January 27 2011 Archived from the original on July 17 2022 Retrieved March 28 2018 Tweed Katherine Washington Metro Will Install LEDs at Zero Cost Archived from the original on November 26 2013 Retrieved November 14 2013 Bibliography editSchrag Zachary 2006 The Great Society Subway A History of the Washington Metro Baltimore MD Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 0 8018 8246 X Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact PDF WMATA Retrieved March 28 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Years Ended June 30 2021 and 2022 PDF WMATA Retrieved March 12 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Official website Library holdings of books maps etc relating to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA Guide To The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metro History Project Collection 1930 1984 Special Collections Research Center Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library The George Washington University 38 53 52 2 N 77 1 9 9 W 38 897833 N 77 019417 W 38 897833 77 019417 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority amp oldid 1197029952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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