Steve Burns
WASHINGTON – (WMAL) If everything goes well in Congressman Gerry Connolly’s eyes, the hearing today will be a wake-up call for both Metro and Congress.
“I hope Congress will understand it has an obligation to be part of the solution, not just a sideline critic,” Connolly told WMAL.
General Manager Paul Wiedefeld and Board Chair Jack Evans will be appearing in front of a joint hearing of the Transportation and Public Assets Subcommittee and the Government Operations Subcommittee today, facing questions about last month’s 29-hour shutdown of the system, its current state and path toward recovery.
“I think obviously we want to know more from the General Manager about the nature of that shutdown,” Connolly said. “And I think people are seeking reassurances that the reports that they’re even contemplating more, including the shutdown of whole lines for months at a time, are in fact not true.”
Connolly, a longtime Metro rider and proponent, said they have allowed themselves to devolve into a “culture of mediocrity,” and it must find a way out sooner rather than later. But that solution, he said, may involve Congress taking a look in the mirror.
“The federal government is the only member of the Metro compact that does not provide operating subsidies,” Connolly said. “I think, frankly, the federal government, in that sense, is getting a free ride.”
The federal government is the biggest beneficiary of Metro, he said.
“I believe that if the federal government wants a full say in the operations of Metro,” Connolly said, “it’s also got to roll up its sleeves and join Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., and provide operating subsidies.”
He said he hoped last month’s day-long shutdown had an impact on his Congressional colleagues who may not be as familiar with the system, showing just how dire the need is. However, he had his doubts about whether they’ll be willing to shell out more.
“I think that will be a very difficult pill for my colleagues to swallow, because they don’t want to pay for anything.”
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