Press Releases

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, released the following statement regarding the potential opening of Metro's Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport Station:

Completing the Silver Line has been my top priority since coming into public office and the rail connection to Dulles has been part of our regional transit vision since the 1960’s. We cannot allow continued breakdowns in safety compliance and oversight operations to delay the long-awaited opening of the Silver Line, which is otherwise just around the corner.

My subcommittee’s most recent hearing on Metro sounded the warning bell about WMATA’s working relationship with the Safety Commission. If the two organizations are really working hand-in-glove there should be no surprises when it comes to safety oversight decisions, such as the Commission’s recent rejection of WMATA’s plan to bring 7000 series rail cars back into service. Riders are suffering the consequences of these fundamental breakdowns in communication.

We will remain laser focused on safety and reliability at WMATA. This includes enforcing a culture of collaboration and transparency between the system and its premier safety oversight body, which is critical now to opening the Silver Line and realizing a transit vision decades in the making."