Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is threatening to withhold funding for Washington Metrorail unless the agency meets certain safety standards.
“If they do not meet our safety protocols that I am personally comfortable with as governor, then we’re going to withhold some funding,” McAuliffe said Wednesday in an interview on WTOP while signing an executive directive.
{mosads}”I am sick and tired of it,” McAuliffe added.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has also threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from Metro if conditions do not improve after a pair of smoke and fire incidents this month.
McAuliffe directed his state transportation secretary and director of Department of Rail and Public Transportation to take steps toward creating a Metro commission with Maryland and the District of Columbia.
McAuliffe said he believed officials had agreed on language to get through their respective legislatures for implementing the oversight commission, saying Virginia’s legislature would introduce legislation next year.
Officials reached a deal in early March agreeing on a plan to establish the independent oversight commission.
McAuliffe acknowledged recent moves on the part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to make the rail system safer after causalities, injuries and disruptions, but said more could be done.
“It has been disgraceful,” he said, adding that he stood by general manager Paul Wiedefeld’s decision to shut down parts of the system to make safety improvements in the coming months.