History Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

a new flyer de42lfa #6567 local branded bus @ ballston-mu metro station in april 2011.

starting in mid-19th century, washington area had been served variety of private bus lines , streetcar services, including extensions of northern virginia trolleys. on time, absorbed capital transit company, formed on december 1, 1933, amalgamation of washington railway, capital traction, , washington rapid transit. financier louis wolfson acquired company in 1949 had franchise revoked in 1955 amidst crippling strike. congress awarded 20-year concession o. roy chalk on condition replace city s remaining streetcars buses 1963. company thereafter known dc transit.

in same year, mass transportation survey attempted forecast both freeway , mass transit systems sufficient meet needs of washington area in year 1980. in 1959 study s final report called construction of 2 rapid transit subway lines in downtown washington. congress responded report enacting national capital transportation act of 1960 coordinate future transportation planning area. act created new federal agency called national capital transportation agency (ncta). however, 1959 report called extensive freeway construction within district of columbia. residents lobbied moratorium on freeway construction in became part of movement called freeway revolts.

the ncta s november 1962 transportation in national capital region report included proposal 89-mile (143 km), $793 million rail system. total cost of proposed highway , rail system less 1959 plan due elimination of controversial freeways. plan supported president kennedy, opposed highway advocates in congress reduced rail system 23-miles (37 km) within district of columbia. however, proposal defeated in congress shortly after president kennedy s death. urban mass transportation act of 1964 passed congress, promised 66% federal funding urban mass transportation projects. encouraged new act, ncta recommended formation of private entity or multi-state authority operate system using more non-federal funds. on september 8, 1965, president johnson signed national capital transportation act of 1965 approving construction of 25-mile (40 km) rapid transit system.

the ncta negotiated virginia, maryland , district of columbia formation of new regional entity. authority created interstate compact, special type of contract or agreement between 1 or more states. pursuant compact clause of u.s. constitution, such compact must approved congress. after washington metropolitan area transit authority compact approved maryland general assembly in 1965, , passed through virginia general assembly , congress in 1966, wmata founded on february 20, 1967.

as government agency, compact grants wmata sovereign immunity 3 jurisdictions in operates, , except limited exceptions, authority cannot sued unless waives immunity. under provisions of compact, authority legally incorporated in district of columbia, wmata maintains headquarters.

a metrorail breda 3000-series car on blue line route in october 2005.

wmata broke ground train system in 1969. first portion of metrorail system opened march 27, 1976, connecting farragut north rhode island avenue on red line. 103 miles (166 km) of original 83-station system completed on january 13, 2001, opening of green line s segment anacostia branch avenue.

wmata s bus system successor 4 privately owned bus companies. while wmata s original compact provided rail service, 1970 need reliable bus services connect passengers rail stations led calls authority overhaul entire bus system well. compact amended in 1971, allowing authority operate buses , take on bus companies. after months of negotiation chalk failed produce agreed price, on january 14, 1973, wmata condemned dc transit , sister company, washington, virginia , maryland coach company , acquired assets $38.2 million. on february 4, acquired alexandria, barcroft , washington transit company, operated in northern virginia, , wma transit company of prince george s county $4.5 million. while ab&w , wma transit in better financial condition dc transit, owners did not wish compete publicly owned bus system, , requested takeover.

in 1979 organization known metro 2001, inc., planned write history of development of metro system wmata using such documents congressional hearing transcripts, correspondence, , maps. however, plan, known metro history project, abandoned in 1985, , materials had been collected until point (1930-1984) donated george washington university. collection of materials under care of gwu s special collections research center, located in estelle , melvin gelman library.

in 1998 congress changed name of washington national airport ronald reagan washington national airport law specifying no money spent implement name change. result, wmata did not change name of national airport station (which never included full name of airport). in response repeated inquiries republican congressmen station renamed, wmata stated stations renamed @ request of local jurisdiction. because both arlington county , district of columbia controlled democrats, name change blocked. finally, in 2001, congress made changing station s name condition of further federal funding.

impacts of great recession

in response demand immediate repayment of $43 million debt, wmata sought temporary restraining order against kbc bank group. kbc claimed wmata in technical default of contract following collapse of aig, had guaranteed loan kbc made wmata in 2002. contract involved sale kbc of wmata s rail cars, leased wmata. wmata asked injunction u.s. district court of district of columbia on october 29, 2008.

after 3 days of negotiations in federal court, judge rosemary m. collyer announced settlement on november 14, 2008. wmata had 14 similar lease agreements other financial institutions when kbc case went trial. waivers requested banks allow wmata time replace aig insurer or guarantees federal government.

in 2009 wmata issued 2 new series of municipal bonds bringing total outstanding bonds $390.9 million, of june 30, 2010. includes $55 million of build america bonds issued in 2009 under american recovery , reinvestment act of 2009 partially subsidized federal government.

however, of system s debt financed directly each local jurisdiction. in addition, wmata authorized receive $202 million in grants federal government american recovery , reinvestment act projects. funds spent in 30 projects include information technology, facilities maintenance, , vehicles , vehicle parts.

on january 14, 2010, general manager john b. catoe announced resignation metro, effective april 2, 2010. replaced on april 3, 2010, interim general manager richard sarles. sarles became 1 of 3 finalists interviewing permanent position, , later became permanent general manager on january 27, 2011. jack requa became interim general manager upon sarles retirement january 16, 2015.