[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6968-S6969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Metro Collision

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my condolences to 
the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragic 
collision of two Metro trains this past Monday evening. This accident 
is the most devastating, by any measure, in Metro's history, and it has 
affected our entire region. My prayers are with those who lost their 
lives and my deepest sympathies are with their families, friends, and 
all those they touched.
  I want to take a moment to praise the first responders, who worked 
tirelessly through the night to rescue the injured and save lives. It 
is during tragedies such as this that we can fully appreciate the 
heroism and bravery of our first responders.

[[Page S6969]]

  At this time, we don't know the cause of the crash, and it may take 
considerable time for the National Transportation Safety Board to 
complete its investigation and make a determination. We certainly will 
do everything we can in this body to assist the National Transportation 
Safety Board in their investigation, make sure it is thorough and 
complete, and that we fully understand how this tragedy occurred.
  News reports found that the train car that caused the fatal accident 
was an older model that the Federal safety officials had recommended 
for replacement. It didn't have the data recorder or modern 
improvements to stand up to a collision, and it may have been 2 months 
behind in its scheduled maintenance. Metro officials are replacing 
these aging cars that date back to the 1970s. These costly replacements 
are being made but at a pace that is too slow.
  Funding shortfalls have caused Metro to make repairs instead of 
replacing aging equipment or structures throughout the system. Last 
year, I visited the Shady Grove Station and witnessed firsthand how 
they literally are using wood planks and iron rods to prop up station 
platforms. They have been forced to make accommodations to keep the 
system running in the safest possible manner.
  The Washington Metro rail system is the second busiest commuter rail 
system in America, carrying as many as a million passengers a day. It 
carries the equivalent of the combined subway ridership of BART in San 
Francisco, MARTA in Atlanta, and SEPTA in Philadelphia each day. But 
more than three decades after the first train started running, the 
system is showing severe signs of age. Sixty percent of the Metro rail 
system is more than 20 years old. The costs of operations maintenance 
and rehabilitation are tremendous.
  This is not only the responsibility of the local jurisdictions that 
serve Metro--the State of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC--but 
there is also a Federal responsibility in regard to these cars. Federal 
facilities are located within footsteps of 35 of Metrorail's 86 
stations. Nearly half of Metrorail's rush hour riders are Federal 
employees. This is our Metro system. We have a responsibility. 
Approximately 10 percent of Metro's riders use the Metrorail stations 
at the Pentagon, Capital South, and Union Station, serving the military 
and the Congress.
  In addition, Metro's ability to move people quickly and safely in the 
event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster is crucial. The Metro 
system was invaluable on September 11, 2001, proving its importance to 
the Federal Government and the Nation during the terrorist attacks of 
that tragic day.
  There is a clear Federal responsibility to this system.
  Metro is unique from any other major public transportation system 
across the country because it has no dedicated source of funding to pay 
for its operation and capital funding requirements. But we are close to 
resolving that issue.
  I was proud to work alongside Senator Mikulski, Senator Webb, and 
former Senator John Warner last year to pass the Federal Rail Safety 
Improvement Act, which was signed into law in October 2008. This law 
authorizes $1.5 billion over 10 years in Federal funds for Metro's 
governing Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, matched 
dollar for dollar by local jurisdictions, for capital improvement. The 
technical details of this arrangement are nearly complete, and when 
done, Metro finally will have its dedicated funding sources. I 
compliment the States of Virginia and Maryland and the District for 
passing the necessary legislation.
  Earlier this year, as a regional delegation, along with our new 
colleague, Senator Mark Warner, we requested that the Appropriations 
Committee provide the first $150 million. While this is a substantial 
downpayment, it is not nearly enough to fulfill all of Metrorail's 
obligations. At the time of the bill's passage, Metro had a list of 
ready-to-go projects totaling about $530 million and $11 billion in 
capital funding needs over the next decade. Yesterday, I joined with my 
colleagues from Maryland and Virginia in sending another letter to the 
chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee reiterating 
our urgent request for a first-year installment of $150 million in 
funding for WMATA. Earlier today, I was pleased to announce $34.3 
million in additional funding for the purchase of new Metro cars. This 
was the last installment of a 3-year, $104 million commitment. However, 
only a steady, major stream of funding will help WMATA make the 
investments needed to reassure the commuters, locals, tourists, 
families, and all Americans who ride Metro that the system is as safe 
and reliable as it can possibly be. I find it unacceptable that the 
transit system in our Nation's Capital does not have enough resources 
to improve safety and upgrade its aging infrastructure. While we may 
not know the cause of Monday's tragic collision for some time, it 
shined a spotlight on the dire need for improvements and upgrades to 
the Metrorail's infrastructure.
  Again, on behalf of all our colleagues, I extend our deepest 
sympathies to all those affected by this horrific accident, in 
particular the families and loved ones of those who were killed. I hope 
my colleagues will join together, working with the Virginia Senators 
and Maryland Senators, to ensure that this body does everything it can 
to make sure a similar tragedy is never repeated.