“What plagues #wmata is a culture-all too often-of mediocrity.” - @GerryConnolly. House subcommittee hearing on Metro & its recent & long term problems has begun.
Besides Northern Virginia’s Connolly, @StenyHoyer of Maryland is here & @EleanorNorton of DC is appearing virtually.
Rep. Gerry Connolly recalled how admired Metro was in its early days - “We’ve got to return to that.”
I remember personally as a kid how everyone used to be so proud of it, so different from now. #wmata
.@7NewsDC is the only local TV station at this House subcommittee hearing on Metro. Keep checking my Tweets for updates, plus we’ll have coverage at WJLA.com & on our newscasts. #wmata
.@CongressmanHice asking Wiedefeld how Metro will deal with a likely permanent drop in ridership due to telecommuting.
Wiedefeld admitted it’s unlikely to ever get back where it was, says it’s time to rethink things, he expects shorter average trips will be the new normal. #wmata
With federal Covid relief funding expected to run out in a little over a year, Metro board chair Paul Smedberg says Metro’s financial model has to change. But sees reverse commutes, young people without cars as potential growth areas. #wmata
Since money to keep Metro operating comes from state governments, Wiedefeld says once the federal Covid relief money runs out state governments will have to decide questions on funding & rethinking what type of system they want Metro to be. #wmata
Kind of bizarre, the House members who were here had to step out so now the witnesses are testifying about Metro to empty seats, with the remaining members of Congress on Zoom. #wmata
Because Metro’s ridership problems are likely permanent, their money issues will be also. Paul Smedberg: “#wmata is not going to look the same today as it will 5, 10 years from now…there is no doubt we are going to have to make very tough financial decisions.”
The US House subcommittee hearing on Metro is now over. Full coverage on @7NewsDC starting at 4pm. #wmata
Looks like I’m the last one here! About to leave and start putting the stories together. #wmata
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