Kaine Statement On FTA Decision To Withhold Transit Funds From Virginia Until Oversight Body Is Established

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) decision to withhold five percent of Fiscal Year 2017 transit formula funds from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. until a new State Safety Oversight Program (SSOP) is established for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA):

“I don’t agree with docking transit funds for regions of Virginia far from D.C. with their own transportation needs - including Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke – but this is another reminder of why it’s crucial to act on WMATA safety. I encourage the Virginia and Maryland General Assemblies, the D.C. Council, and my colleagues in Congress to enact the new Metro Safety Commission as swiftly as possible.”

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