1. June 22, 2010
The Honorable Robert McDonnell
Office of the Governor
1111 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23319
Dear Governor McDonnell:
While I share your concerns about safety and accountability at the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority (WMATA), I respectfully disagree with your stance that withholding Virginia’s pledged
$50 million in matching funds for a $150 million federal grant will improve either. The grant is
specifically slated to make improvements in WMATA safety, including replacement of the 1000 series
railcars.
Today is the anniversary of the worst accident in WMATA history that claimed the lives of nine people,
including train operator Jeanice McMillan, and injured 76 others. In addition, a number of workers that
our union represents have been killed in recent years on the job, including Matthew Brooks, Leslie
Cherry, Keith Dodson, Jeffrey Garrard, Jong Lee, John Moore, Michael Nash, Sung Oh and Michael
Waldron. I do not believe their memory will be served by holding safety improvements hostage as has
been alleged in the press.
I also want to disagree with the assertion by Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton that adding
“one Principal Director and one Alternate Director [selected by Virginia Department of Rail and
Transportation] will give the Commonwealth greater accountability for its financial contributions and
safety oversight responsibilities…”
It is our experience that elected representatives appointed by the Northern Virginia Transportation
Commission to the WMATA board of directors have been much more responsive to safety, customer
service and financial concerns than many non-elected officials that have been appointed by other
jurisdictions.
Secretary Connaughton also cites “recent encouragement from stakeholders for greater involvement
from DRPT in WMATA.” Mr. Connaughton does not cite these stakeholders, but I would seriously
question whether they include a majority of elected officials, transit advocacy organizations,
environmental organizations and civic organizations in the WMATA service area.
I would also note that Mr. Connaughton’s letter asserts that the Commonwealth is now contributing a
majority of the funds due to WMATA from the state of Virginia. I would ask you to take another look at
the figures you cite. It does not appear to include fare revenues collected from the passengers and
seems to include the 2% gasoline tax that is levied solely in Northern Virginia. Further, the
Commonwealth collects a far greater percentage of tax revenue from the Northern Virginia area than it
returns in state assistance or programs.

2. It is not unreasonable for the Commonwealth to pay more attention to WMATA policies adopted by the
board of directors or engage in a more active oversight role of WMATA operations. This does not have
to be accomplished, however, by replacing elected officials on the WMATA board of directors.
I do not believe this is a partisan issue or a labor/management issue. Instead, I believe it is an issue
critical to the necessary safety improvements that would be funded by monies that your administration
has reportedly threatened to withhold. I believe that by making WMATA board members less accessible
to the public, WMATA will become more unaccountable to the citizens that it serves.
I hope that your administration will reconsider the stance it has taken on this issue. I thank you in
advance for your consideration of my views.
Sincerely,
Jackie Jeter
President
cc: Senator Mark Warner
Senator James Webb
Congressman James Moran
Congressman Frank Wolf
Congressman Gerry Connolly
Honorable Catherine Hudgins