The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC) voted on September 10, 2018, to pursue Federal Transit Administration (FTA) certification of MSC’s transit safety oversight program for the DC Metro system.  Submission of WMSC’s safety oversight certification program to FTA will initiate the final phase of an ongoing transfer of safety oversight responsibility for the DC Metro system from the federal government to WMSC.

WMSC is an independent agency who will be responsible for overseeing and enforcing federal transit safety requirements for the DC Metro and is a joint compact of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. WMSC is the only multi-jurisdictional transit safety oversight agency in the nation.  Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell serves as outside counsel to WMSC and has assisted the agency in its formation and in coordination with FTA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Administration, which operates the DC Metro.