[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 4 (Saturday, January 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE COMPLETION OF THE 103-MILE ADOPTED REGIONAL METRORAIL 
                                 SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, January 6, 2001

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, this region, and indeed this Nation, can take 
great pride in the fact that on Saturday, January 13, 2001, the final 
rail transit segment of the planned 103-mile Adopted Regional Metrorail 
System will be put into service. This most significant milestone 
represents the culmination of a great dream of a visionary group of 
people in the 1960's that our Nation's Capital would join other great 
capital cities in having a rapid transit system.
  Congress was a full partner in the creation of WMATA, beginning in 
1952 when Congress passed the National Capital Planning Act mandating 
that plans be developed to facilitate movement throughout the region. 
In 1967, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was created 
by Congress to build and operate a premier subway system worthy of the 
Nation's Capital. Every Congress and Administration since has 
recognized and confirmed the Federal commitment to the Metrorail and 
Metrobus system.
  From the outset, construction of the Metrorail system was a 
monumental undertaking. As directed by President Lyndon Johnson, it was 
monumental in design, befitting the beauty and dignity of our Nation's 
Capital. Metro's designers used architecture that is aesthetically 
compatible with the history and symbolism of the capital city. 
Architects sought simplicity, durability, and a sense of timelessness 
that would serve future generations.
  On January 13th, we will gather at the Branch Avenue Station in 
Prince George's County Maryland to symbolically drive the last spike in 
the 103-mile Metrorail System. We can only marvel at the handsome 
return on investment on the public's $10 billion investment and 
remember that in today's dollars the 103-mile system would have cost 
$22 billion.
  Since opening day in March of 1976, more than two billion transit 
rides have been taken. We have revitalized communities in the vicinity 
of rail stations. Engineers and contractors from throughout the nation 
have benefitted from jobs and construction contracts. We have reduced 
energy consumption, improved air quality and enhanced mobility for the 
transit dependent. Everyday the Metrorail and Metrobus system take 
thousands of people to jobs, schools, hospitals, family and other 
pursuits. It is virtually impossible to truly quantify the unlimited 
contributions our world acclaimed Metro system has made to the quality 
of life in the national capital region.
  Metrorail ridership has been topping records over the past year. Of 
the top twenty-five weekday ridership records in Metrorail history, 
twenty-two have occurred in the last year, as Metrorail carried over 
well 600,000 trips on those days.
  We in Congress, the region, and the Nation can be proud that we have 
created such a fine public transit system, worthy of our capital. The 
success of the beautiful Metrorail system is testament to the vision 
and federal-regional cooperation over the past fifty years, as well as 
the profound dedication of the people that designed, built and now 
operate the finest transit system in the world. Please join me in 
congratulating WMATA on achieving this awesome milestone.