DC Metro Board Holds Emergency Meeting Thursday

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Metro Board of Directors gathered for an emergency meeting Thursday, to talk about safety and communication, after the derailment of a Silver Line train near the East Falls Church Metro station, red signal violations and other safety issues that have plagued the system.

At least one person was injured and the East Falls Church station was shut down for days after the incident July 29. Authorities later found out deteriorated track ties had caused the tracks to widen, leading to the derailment.

"This has got to stop," board Chairman Jack Evans said in the meeting that was broadcast on several news stations. In his remarks, he mentioned fatalities from the Fort Totten station crash that killed nine and last year's death of Carol Glover, 61, of Alexandria. He also lambasted Metro for a report that shows red lights were ignored 68 times between 2012 and July.

The previously unscheduled meeting Thursday was called by Evans, who told The Washington Post before the meeting: “We have to get to the bottom of how these things are able to happen.” The Metro board's next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept. 8.

See: Police Open Investigation Into East Falls Church Derailment

The meeting Thursday is expected to begin with a statement by Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, followed by board members' questions. Wiedefeld took over as GM in November. One of those on the board representing Northern Virginia is Jim Corcoran, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

“Paul J. Wiedefeld absolutely has my support,” Corcoran told The Washington Post. “Everything he’s been doing are things that have probably been delayed for too long."

After the Silver Line derailment, Northern Virginia Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10th) said she had spoken with Wiedefeld about the investigation of the derailment and how to bring more transparency to the process and how to best identify and root out "serious problems throughout the system."

"The public deserves an expeditious review by the law enforcement authorities that are being brought in to review these serious concerns," she said.

Others on the board from Northern Virginia include Catherine Hudgins, Fairfax County supervisor; Thomas Bulger, president of Government Relations Inc.; Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey, and Alexandria City Councilmember Paul Smedberg.

PHOTO of DC Metro train from Patch archive