In the News

Congressman Gerry Connolly released the following statement on Governor McAuliffe's Executive Directive to strengthen safety oversight of Metro:

“Governor McAuliffe’s announcement shows he is taking seriously the urgent recommendation by Secretary Foxx and the NTSB that the region stand up a new safety agency with robust oversight capabilities. The Metro Safety Commission must be vested with real authority and real tools to reassure riders that the Metro system is safe. I applaud the Governor’s Executive Directive and look forward to Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia moving expeditiously to set up a permanent Metro Safety Commission.”

Today, Gov. McAuliffe signed an executive directive instructing state transportation officials to facilitate the creation and staffing of a Metro Safety Commission and giving them the authority to oversee compliance with safety directives at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The Directive instructs the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to review all accident investigations related to the Metrorail system, to inspect public and nonpublic areas of the system, and to assess the state of repair for all trains, tracks and other infrastructure.