With Federal Funding On the Line, D.C. Metro Prioritizes Safety

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.

 

On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that spells out the powers, governance, finance and jurisdiction of a new office overseeing the safety of Metro.