The lack of a final decision on Capitol Hill is causing safety concerns for Metro. Maryland Democratic Senator Ben Cardin led a news conference at a Metro facility in Hyattsville on Tuesday, reporting that if Congress does not pass a long term transportation bill, which would provide federal funding for public transit programs and highways, vital maintenance projects on the Metro will be put on hold. Cardin said, “These projects can affect safety – there’s no question about that.” Nonetheless, Cardin did say he believes Metro is making progress in the area of safety and that the Metro is “much safer today” compared to a few years ago.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) surface transportation bill was passed in the Senate in March by a vote of 74-22. Cardin is now pushing the House of Representatives to pass the bill. MAP-21 is a two year bill that Cardin says will allow Metro to keep its eye on maintenance and safety, while simultaneously upgrading railcars, tracks, and buses. The bill will also allow Metro to move forward with some 140 major capital projects.
