A task force created by the top executives of Maryland, Virginia and the District is recommending that Metro board members face term limits and report how often they attend board meetings to guard against absenteeism. The group, created by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray in January, issued the first phase of its recommendations in a draft report Thursday. It’s the latest push to overhaul how the board governs the transit agency after two years of turmoil since the June 2009 Fort Totten crash. The changes likely will require matching legislation in each of the jurisdictions — and Congress — to take effect.
The group calls for requiring qualifications for who can serve on the 16-seat board. They said a ridership requirement should be enacted, with each jurisdiction making sure their appointees “use the Metro system on a regular basis in order to familiarize themselves with customer service and operational issues.” In the past, some board members did not regularly use the system despite getting free ride-for-life cards.
Board members also should be required to have experience in various fields such as transit, engineering, finance or law.
The group called for term limits, limiting board members to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. But it recommended extending the tenure of the board chairman to two years from the current one to preserve continuity.
The report was released the same day that the board enacted new bylaws and a code of ethics after months of work. Metro board member Mary Hynes, who led the internal government-reform efforts, welcomed the group’s report and said some of it reiterated changes they’ve already made such as multiyear planning. “We’ve been talking about that since February, so we’re all on the same page,” she said. – Kytja Weir
