COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

TO:                       Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

               

FROM:              Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                                Councilmember Jack Evans

                                                               

DATE:                January 4, 2018

 

 

This a request to place the following items on the agenda for the January 9, 2018 Legislative Meeting:

 

• Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board of Directors Appointment Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2018
• Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board of Directors Appointment Emergency Amendment Act of 2018

 

The purpose of the emergency is to authorize the Mayor and the Council to make appointments to the Board of Directors of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (“Commission”).  Since October 9, 2015, the Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”) has taken over all oversight, inspection, and enforcement responsibilities of the WMATA Metrorail System.  The FTA will continue to administer safety oversight of the WMATA Metrorail System until the Commission is stood up and certified by the FTA to take over the safety oversight responsibilities.  This cannot be done until a Board of Directors is appointed to govern the Commission.  Authorizing the Mayor and Council to make appointments to the Board will allow the Commission to get up and running.  This will help expedite the process of transferring the safety oversight responsibilities of the WMATA Metrorail System from the FTA to the Commission.

 

The emergency bill will mirror Bill 22-464, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board of Directors Appointment Amendment Act of 2017 which is the permanent version of this emergency.  The Council approved emergency and temporary legislation last year to address this issue.  However, the Committee Print of Bill 22-464 was amended and a new round of emergency legislation is necessary to reflect the amendments made to the permanent legislation.  The emergency legislation will allow the Council to make and confirm appointments to the Commission before Bill 22-464 becomes law.  Bill 22-464 is scheduled to have its second and final reading before the Council on January 9, 2018.