I forgot to mention (mea culpa)

In the Davis legislation to provide additional federal support to WMATA, a key provision was the addition of board members representing the federal government.

Many people in the transit and government workers community were concerned that the agency designated to make the appointments was the General Services Administration, which is mostly a building management and contracting organization, rather than a mobility organization (GSA does assist government agencies on transportation demand management).

In fact, I wrote a blog entry, "USDOT and NCPC, not GSA, should appoint members to the WMATA Board," about a year ago expressing this concern.

So it was a pleasant surprise to see the reports over the weekend about the first two appointees, Mortimer Downey, a former transit agency administrator, and the executive director of the National Capital Planning Commission, Marcel Acosta, and how good they are. According to this article in yesterday's Examiner, "New Metro board member sees 'serious disorder' in system," Mr. Downey is already cognizant that he won't be able to be somnambulant and take his participation for granted.

Clearly the Obama Administration recognized the importance of these appointments.

(When I commented aloud about this news in the Sunday paper, Suzanne commented that it was the first time in awhile that I positively commented after reading something in the newspaper.)

While I don't look to the federal government to be the local government and region's savior (unlike Jonetta Rose Barras, see "Leaving the Metro station" from the Examiner) it's always nice to see when they do the right thing.