2 Top Metro Officials Resign Following News Of Failed Rail Operator Recertifications

WASHINGTON, DC — Metro GM/CEO Paul Wiedefeld, who was due to step down on June 30, announced his immediate resignation on Monday.

On Sunday, news broke that nearly half of Metro's rail operators had failed their recertifications, according to the transit system's chief safety officer. Recertifications involve both classroom and supervised testing in the rail yard and on the mainline.

“I have decided to make my retirement effective today to provide a more timely transition to transition to Interim General Manager Andy Off," Wiedefeld said in a statement.

Wiedefeld also accepted the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader, which also went into effect on Monday.

“I believe conveying all authority of the General Manager’s office to Mr. Off better positions him to address the challenges that came to light this week, while preparing for the transition to the next CEO," Wiedefeld said.

The failure in training and testing by Metro staff has safety implications for the service, and follows similar lapses dating back at least seven years, The Washington Post reported.

"It’s the latest disruption to upend the nation’s third-largest transit system, which is trying to lure back riders who shifted to telework or other modes of transportation during the pandemic," the Post said.

In a separate statement, Paul C. Smedberg, the chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board, confirmed that the board had accepted both Wiedefeld and Leader's resignations.

"The Board appreciates Paul’s and Joe’s commitment to WMATA over the last six years," Smedberg said, in his statement. "We feel the timing is right for Interim General Manager and CEO Andy Off to lead the organization through this critical transition period, with a continued emphasis on safety. Safety is and will continue to be our top priority. We will look to Andy’s leadership to ensure we continue on this path."

In response to the report of recertification failures, Metro removed 72 operators from service who had all fallen out of compliance before May 2021.

The immediate effect was a reduction of service on Metro's Green and Yellow Lines, with trains arriving every 20 minutes rather than every 15 minutes. In addition, extra trains to relieve crowding were not readily available. The conditions are expected to continue until the end of May, according to Metro.

The lapses in recertifications were discovered during a recent review by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, which provides safety oversight for the rail system.

Theresa M. Impastato, Metro's chief safety officer and executive vice president, conducted a further investigation and briefed the board on Thursday.

"We support Metro management’s decision to immediately remove from service operators who became out of compliance more than a year ago as a first step," Smedberg said. "The Board directed Metro management to provide a full accounting of how and why this occurred and develop a plan to ensure it is remedied as fast as possible.”

Metro estimates the recertification of more than 250 rail operators would take about two to three months.

The Post reported D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said Monday before the leadership resignations that she was disappointed in Metro’s inability to provide reliable service at a time when many people are resuming social activities, returning to workplaces and visiting the city for vacation.

“It has been disappointing to residents, workers, and visitors that, as D.C. has reopened, Metro has not been able to deliver the level of service we expect and deserve,” Bowser said. “This latest setback is frustrating for everyone who relies on Metro.”

Last Tuesday, the Metro Board announced that it had chosen Randy Clarke, the president and CEO of Capital Metro in Austin, Texas to succeed Wiedefeld. Clarke will take over the troubled Metro system later this summer.

The Metrorail system is currently operating with reduced service following last October's derailment of a Blue Line Metrorail train in Virginia. Among many other issues, Metro also faces continued delays in completing the Silver Line extension to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.