Local Groups Address WMATA Board on Metro Reform
On September 28, 2017, the leadership of Federal City Council, the 2030 Group, and the Greater Washington Board of Trade addressed the Board of WMATA to offer its views regarding specific reforms it believes are essential to put the Metro system on a long term and sustainable path. Mayor Tony Williams, CEO and Executive Director of Federal City Council, gave opening remarks on behalf of the coalition. Consistent with the June 22nd letter (of which HAND was a signatory) to Governors Hogan and McAuliffe, Mayor Bowser, and USDOT Secretary Chao, Mayor Williams focused his remarks on the need to implement reforms in three categories: WMATA’s governance structure, operations, and funding regime.
It is the coalition’s belief believe that the three principles of reform are interrelated and should not be viewed as mutually-exclusive.
Mayor Williams remarked, “this is not simply an academic discussion or theoretical exercise. On the contrary, with the extraordinary opportunity presented to this region by the Amazon Headquarters solicitation, this discussion is playing out in real time with real world consequences.” Moreover, as he continues, “if we are to continue to be a region that can attract the largest and most innovative corporations, like Amazon, as well as the most skilled and talented workforce the country has to offer, we must seize upon the unique opportunity before us and act boldly and aggressively to reform the Metro system.”
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