On August 22, President Donald Trump signed a congressional resolution that allows the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to create the Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC), an independent body that will provide safety oversight of the region’s transit system. The MSC will assume safety oversight of Metro from the Federal Transit Administration. The commission will have the power to order immediate corrective safety actions, investigate hazards or accidents, and issue fines. 

The District, Maryland, and Virginia have already enacted laws to create the commission and are now working together to stand up the commission by selecting commissioners, hiring staff, and securing office space. At the COG Board of Directors March meeting, COG Board Chairman Kenyan McDuffie recognized his fellow board members, Virginia State Senator George Barker, Maryland State Senator Brian Feldman, and District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, for sponsoring and championing the MSC legislation in their respective legislatures.

COG staff members have supported the three jurisdictions throughout the process.