Phase I Recommendations Report on Improving WMATA Governance

The Governance Work Group (GWG), created by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray to address Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) governance, today released its draft Phase I Recommendations for improving the governance practices and structure of the WMATA Board of Directors.

This draft report represents the GWG’s initial phase of recommendations to help guide the WMATA Board and other regional efforts to improve the board member appointment process, better define member and Chair roles and responsibilities, improve transparency and accountability and focus board activity on high-level policy. Several of the recommendations identified in this draft report being released by the transportation executives of the three jurisdictions have already been presented to the WMATA Board and have helped shape earlier revisions to the Board’s first-ever Bylaws, which will be voted on later this month.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton stressed that “the GWG will continue to move toward a second phase of recommendations, including the drafting of potential legislation and Compact amendments, the role of alternates and the overall size of the WMATA Board.”

The GWG will accept public comments on the draft Phase I Recommendations report for the next 30 days. Submissions will be accepted electronically and can be emailed to: Governance.Work.Group@gmail.com. The deadline for the submission of comments is August 25, 2011.

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