For immediate release: Tuesday, April 17, 2010
Contact: Oversight and Government Reform Press Office, (202) 225-5051

Oversight Committee to Examine WMATA Challenges

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, April 21, 2010 the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing entitled “The Washington Metro System: Safety, Service and Stability,” to examine the challenges facing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) as it transitions under new leadership.

The Committee will address WMATA’s efforts to improve safety and service in the wake of a spate of accidents that have occurred within the Metro system over the past year; the short and long-term solutions for addressing the budget shortfall currently confronting WMATA; and the process for selecting a permanent General Manager for WMATA and establishing effective long term leadership.

The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. in room 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.  A webcast of the hearing will be available on the Committee website: http://oversight.house.gov.

The witnesses scheduled to testify include:

Panel I

Mr. Peter M. Rogoff
Administrator
Federal Transit Administration

Panel II

Mr. Richard Sarles
Interim General Manager
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Mr. Peter Benjamin
Chairman, Board of Directors
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Mr. Matt Bassett
Chairman, Tri-State Oversight Committee
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Ms. Jackie Jeter
President
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689

Mr. David Alpert
Vice-Chair
Metro Rider Advisory council

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