Provided by the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Comstock
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, and WMATA Interim General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jack Requa rode Metro’s Silver Line today from East Falls Church to Wiehle-Reston East. Congresswoman Comstock, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had requested that Secretary Foxx come ride on the system to discuss and evaluate the safety issues that came up in light of a smoke-filled Yellow Line train in January which tragically led to a fatality and 87 hospitalizations.
Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
“I appreciate Secretary Foxx and officials from Metro coming to discuss the outstanding safety issues and Metro’s response,” said Congresswoman Comstock. “We know we have to remain vigilant in providing safety on Metro and our policies and financial assistance on the federal level are intended to support additional safety measures and new cars and upgrades for a system that serves our communities. We in Congress will continue oversight on the shortcomings of the system and be committed to constant improvements. Alongside those efforts, Congress needs to maintain the commitment to resources agreed to in law in 2009 which provides $150 million annually with a match of $50 million each from the District of Colombia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Maryland.”
Last month, Congresswoman Comstock joined with her colleagues in the National Capital Region calling on the House Appropriations Committee to restore this funding during the committee process. You can read the statement here.
