In the News

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) issued the following statement on today’s release of the GAO Report on Metro entitled “Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Steps Taken to Address Financial Management and Safety Recommendations, but Financial Management Internal Controls Need Strengthening (GAO-15-640R)”:

“The financial management and safety concerns cited in the GAO report make it even clearer that WMATA needs to get new leadership in place post haste. We have seen a litany of concerns about Metro safety and management issues from oversight agencies and this GAO’s report reaffirms those concerns.

“One month ago, the Federal Transit Administration cited significant problems with Metro’s emergency management, training protocols, and maintenance backlog that jeopardized rider and employee safety.  One week ago, the WMATA Board of Directors announced after 6 months of acting leadership that it was “re-energizing” its search for a new and permanent General Manager and CEO for Metro.  And, yesterday, USDOT Secretary Foxx and the chief executives of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia reiterated the need for Metro to hire a permanent manager.                      

“We are facing a perfect storm of problems – an aging Metro system, a panoply of maintenance issues that impact rider safety and confidence, weak financial management over internal controls, and lack of a dedicated source of funding for the system.

“The hiring of a new GM/CEO won’t solve Metro’s many problems overnight, but it will be an important step forward to resolving the issues raised by FTA, the NTSB, the National Capital Region Congressional delegation, local leaders, and, now, the GAO.”