WASHINGTON — A Northern Virginia member of Congress is demanding answers and making blistering accusations following Monday’s Red Line derailment.
Rep. Barbara Comstock, a Republican representing Virginia’s 10th District in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, who has been pushing her own legislative reforms, held little back in a letter to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld that was released Wednesday.
Comstock took particular aim at Metro’s latest public relations campaign, dubbed “Back2Good,” that touts improvements that have occurred on the Metrorail system.
Citing “accidents, filthy facilities, and crime,” Comstock said Metro is getting worse, not better, and said even with a continued influx of money, nothing is going to change until there’s “better governance” of the system.
She also wants WMATA to put the “Back2Good” campaign on the shelf and use the money Metro was spending on its advertising campaign to be put into improvements for the transit system, though where exactly she wants the money to go isn’t specified.
Comstock is also demanding several documents related to testing and inspections in the area of the derailment. Arguing that “strong assurances were made to riders that SafeTrack would avert these types of accidents,” Comstock is demanding any and all documents:
- Related to the ultrasonic testing on Aug. 9, 2017 in the incident area;
- Related to the automatic geometry measurements on Oct. 2, 2017;
- Related to the walking inspections conducted on Jan. 3, 7, and 10;
- Produced after the forensic analysis and metallurgic testing of the removed and quarantined section of rail where the derailment occurred is completed; and
- Produced after the inspection of the eight-car trainset has been completed.
” target=”_blank”>Read Rep. Barbara Comstock’s letter to Metro.
