Media Contact:  Karyn Le Blanc at (202) 671-3490

(Washington, DC) On Thursday, June 5th the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Metropolitan Council of Governments (MCOG), Our Nation’s Capital (ONC) and the Greater Washington Board of Trade (BOT) hosted a meeting with Senator Benjamin Cardin (MD), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) and Congressman Tom Davis (VA) along with Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari and Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer, DDOT Director Emeka C. Moneme and Metro General Manager, John B. Catoe, to discuss transit and infrastructure concerns throughout the region as well as immediate and future federal funding needs.

The three federal representatives presented impassioned speeches focusing on regional transportation priorities including infrastructure, dedicated funding needs for Metro and the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 3036) co-sponsored by Senator Cardin.

“I am especially proud of a section of the bill I authored that will direct about $171B, over the life of the bill, to states and localities for public transportation nationwide. About two-thirds of this money will go to support existing systems like Washington Metro, MARC and MTA, while about 30 percent will help develop new lines that will take more and more cars off our roads, cut dangerous emissions, ease congestion, and reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources like OPEC. Public transit systems are especially vital to the economic and environmental health of the National Capital Region and the state of Maryland.”

Majority Leader Hoyer cited recent successes on the Woodrow Wilson and Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridges stating, “We must redouble our efforts to reduce congestion, bolster public transit and ensure that our transportation infrastructure is safe, reliable and effective. If we do not take steps to mitigate the current gridlock, we risk stunting our region’s economic growth and prosperity.”

Much discussion was held regarding the recent hold on the Davis Metro Bill (H.R. 3496) and the obvious need for dedicated Metro funding for the region. “The needs for repair and infrastructure maintenance on Metro are obvious and we must continue to work towards the means by which to make this important funding a reality” stated Congressman Davis. Metro currently has no dedicated funding stream. The bill would provide a $1.5 billion federal match for Metro improvements over the next decade.

The regions leaders agreed to continue to work together to address and identify funding for the various infrastructure and transportation needs throughout the region.