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WMATA 'Replacement' Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC)


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 February 2016 - 08:36 PM

The Washington Post, 2/8:
 

Federal funding for D.C., Va., Md. at risk due to lack of progress on Metro oversight

 

The Federal Transit Administration has given Virginia, Maryland and the District a year to create a safety oversight body for Metro or risk losing millions in federal transportation funding.

 

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx wrote in a letter Monday to D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ® and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) that he was frustrated to learn that the jurisdictions would not be pursuing legislation this year to establish a federally compliant safety oversight agency to oversee Metro’s rail operations.

 

Late last year, Foxx transferred safety oversight of Metro’s rail operations to the FTA with the understanding that it would be temporary — until the three jurisdictions could develop a compact to create an oversight agency. The move was made after federal officials determined that the agency charged with the task, the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC), was woefully inadequate for the job.

 

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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 March 2016 - 07:47 AM

Progressive Railroading, 3/4:

Virginia, Maryland and D.C. leaders agree to WMATA safety commission

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser have signed a memorandum of understanding that moves them closer to establishing a new safety commission that would provide independent oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

As part of the agreement, all three will commit resources and staff, share information and work together in a transparent fashion to develop strategies to help establish a fully compliant oversight agency, according to a press release issued by Hogan's office.

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 March 2016 - 07:51 AM

The Washington Post, 3/2:
 

D.C., Maryland, Virginia reach deal on new Metro safety oversight agency

 

The District, Maryland and Virginia have agreed on a plan to create an independent agency that will oversee safety at Metro, officials said Wednesday. But whether the deal will be enough to satisfy the nation’s top transportation official — and stave off the potential loss of at least $15 million in federal transit funds — remains to be seen.

 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has been outspoken in his frustration with elected officials in the three jurisdictions and the slow pace of their efforts to create a Metro safety oversight office.

 

In a meeting with reporters last week, Foxx reiterated his threat to withhold millions in federal funding from the jurisdictions if they fail to act on legislation to create the agency by the end of this year.

 

It appears the pressure worked.

 

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#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 25 May 2016 - 04:26 PM

WTOP radio, 5/25:
 

Region’s leaders release draft bill to ensure a safer Metro

WASHINGTON — D.C., Maryland and Virginia officials have polished off draft legislation that would set up an independent commission responsible for ensuring the safety of Metro and the thousands of commuters and tourists who ride it daily.

 

The governor signed an executive directive during an appearance on WTOP instructing state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne and Jennifer Mitchell, director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, to set up the Metro Safety Commission with Maryland and the District.

 

The Virginia General Assembly, which is not scheduled to meet again until January, must approve legislation setting up the agency, but the directive is a first step toward making that happen, McAuliffe said.

 

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#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 25 May 2016 - 04:52 PM

The Washington Post, 5/25:
 

Va. Gov. Terry McAuliffe issues Metro safety oversight directive

 

RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Wednesday said Virginia will withhold funding to Metro if the troubled transit agency doesn’t agree to safety protocols devised in part by top state transportation officials.

 

The governor signed an executive directive during an appearance on WTOP instructing state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne and Jennifer Mitchell, director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, to set up the Metro Safety Commission with Maryland and the District.

 

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#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 August 2016 - 07:27 AM

WTOP radio, 8/19:
 

Groups warn that Metro safety could slip behind closed doors

 

WASHINGTON — A new Metro Safety Commission could operate largely behind closed doors except when it is convenient, open government groups warned in a letter sent to D.C., Maryland and Virginia leaders on Thursday.

 

The three jurisdictions have promised for years to set up an oversight commission with actual enforcement power, but only this spring did the three tentatively agree on the bill that would establish such an agency. The leaders of the D.C. Open Government Coalition, the Virginia Coalition for Open Government and the Maryland-Delaware-D. C. Press Association are concerned that, as written, the bill would allow the new commission to set its own rules for what it shares with the public and what it does not.

 

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#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 October 2016 - 12:10 PM

WTOP radio, 10/4:
 

Changes to Metro safety oversight bill to boost public access

 

WASHINGTON — As a safety oversight commission for Metro marches closer to reality, the D.C. Council has made changes to authorizing legislation to make it easier for the public to also keep an eye on the transit agency’s safety record.

 

SNIP

 

Originally, the draft legislation did not require the commission to be subject to state open records laws but would have allowed the commission to set its own policies using the federal law as a guide.

 

“You need the oversight commission to watch Metro and you need the public to be able to watch the oversight commission,” said Kevin Goldberg, president of the D.C. Open Government Coalition, who testified during the hearing. “I think there always needs to be somebody watching the watchman.”

 

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#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 October 2016 - 05:49 PM

WTOP radio 10/19:
 

Even with new safety commission, risky Metro workers could remain at the agency

 

ARLINGTON, Va. — A new Metro Safety Commission would be able to direct Metro to move workers out of certain safety positions, but the employees could remain on the job elsewhere at Metro, Virginia leaders said Wednesday.

 

The safety commission “can’t direct them to fire somebody, and can’t direct them to take action that would be adverse to their collective bargaining rights, but can direct them to simply move them out of a safety sensitive position,” Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, said at a meeting Wednesday of the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability.

 

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#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 10 January 2017 - 10:21 PM

The  Washington  Post, 1/9/17:
 

Following concession, Va. and Md. legislatures expected to okay Metro safety body

 

A new Metro safety oversight commission is a step closer to happening as the Virginia and Maryland legislatures convene this week.

 

Officials in both states had been concerned that the legislation would be delayed this year, but the plan got a boost after Virginia obtained a concession that the new commission’s board would have to give unanimous consent before ordering any shutdown of the transit system, legislators and others said.

 

The D.C. Council passed a bill last month creating the commission. Maryland and Virginia must approve identical versions of the legislation to establish the commission, which will have more authority over Metro safety than its widely criticized predecessor, the Tri-State Oversight Committee.

 

The commission will not be set up in time to meet a Feb. 9 deadline set by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. By failing to meet the deadline, the three risk losing millions in federal transit funds.

 

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#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 January 2017 - 12:43 PM

The Washington Post, 1/26:
 

Virginia GOP lawmakers threaten to derail Metro safety body — but maybe only temporarily

 

RICHMOND — Virginia House Republicans placed a roadblock in the path to creating a new Metro oversight body Thursday, but both GOP and Democratic leaders said there is plenty of time left in the legislative session to reverse the move.

 

A House Transportation subcommittee voted along party lines for an amendment that would require Metro to weaken union protections and fix its pension deficit before the Metro Safety Commission is formed.

 

If sustained, the amendment would derail a lengthy effort in Virginia, Maryland and the District — which must all approve identical legislation — to establish the federally mandated commission or risk losing millions of dollars in federal transit aid.

 

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