The aftershocks from last year’s deadly Metro crash have continued to reverberate through the transit system, this week reaching the inner ring of power as more board members flee. First top executives were kicked out, then the general manager stepped down. Now, five of the 14-members are slated to leave the board, while three others could also depart.
But it took months after the June 22, 2009, Red Line crash for the fallout to begin. Initially just one employee was reassigned during the investigation of what caused two trains to crash, killing nine people and injuring dozens more. He was reinstated to his old job just over a month later.
Six months passed before General Manager John Catoe shook up his own team, removing six of his 16 executives.
Then Catoe took the fall, announcing his resignation a month later despite having just renewed his contract.
Now the heat is on the transit agency’s board, with several outside groups critiquing the group’s leadership.
Board members are fleeing in turn, before any reforms take place.
Arlington County representative Christopher Zimmerman stunned his colleagues when he resigned earlier this month. No other Virginia seats are expected to change, according to Northern Virginia Transportation Commission spokeswoman Kala Leggett Quintana.
But three of Maryland’s four seats are flipping. Maryland alternate Gordon Linton decided not to seek reappointment after his term expired. Elizabeth Hewlett will be stepping down, as well, said Maryland Department of Transportation spokesman Jack Cahalan.
And Prince George’s County new Executive Rushern Baker decided to revoke Marcell Solomon’s seat, barring the lawyer from attending any further Metro meetings as of Wednesday, said Baker’s spokesman Scott Peterson. Solomon had come under fire after a Washington Examiner analysis found that he had missed more than half of all board meetings in an 18-month period. He earned $39,656.90 from the county in 2009, the most of any Metro director.
The District’s seats are also in flux. City Administrator Neil Albert is leaving his job as Vincent Gray becomes mayor and thus is almost certain to leave his seat on the Metro board. Councilman Tommy Wells said Wednesday he had been named to the Metro board, a possible replacement of Councilman Jim Graham. But the official appointments had not been made as of Thursday and Graham could still be appointed as an alternate member. He declined to say Thursday whether he would accept such a role.
More aftershocks are coming. A report from Maryland, Virginia and District officials on how the transit agency should be reformed is expected soon.
