Feds Give MD, DC, VA Reprieve For Missing Deadline On Metro Safety Agency

John Matthews
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) No one ever said regional cooperation moves quickly.

The District, Maryland and Virginia faced a Thursday deadline to create an independent agency to oversee safety at Metro, with the loss of several million dollars in federal funding for transportation projects on the line as a penalty. But thanks to a last-minute reprieve, the Feds are going to let the clock continue to run for now.

The Federal Transit Administration released a statement Thursday evening announcing the matter is still under consideration.

“No decision has been made,” read the statement. “The matter is currently under consideration. The safety of [Metro’s] riders, operators and workers requires that the jurisdictions complete their work on a federally-compliant [state safety agency] without further delay.”

By statute, the FTA is now authorized to withhold millions of dollars in funding, the but statement signaled instead that the states and DC continue working to create the panel as soon as possible.

Maryland and Virginia both claimed several months ago that they would not be able to meet the deadline set by then-Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. DC did approve a bill to create the agency in December, but nether state was able to respond until this year, citing their legislative calendars.

The FTA has not said how long it will extend the deadline for the jurisdictions to get the agency created. If the penalties are eventually imposed, Virginia estimates its loss would be $6.2 million, Maryland $4.8 million and DC $795,000. In theory, the losses would be temporary, with the money restored once the safety agency is finally in place.