Appointed by Governor of Maryland: Suhair Al Khatib, 2023; Debra Farrar-Dyke, 2025; vacancy, alternate.
Appointed by Governor of Virginia: Michael J. Rush, 2023; one vacancy; Robert Lauby, alternate, 2024.
Appointed by Mayor, District of Columbia: Robert C. Bobb, 2024; Christopher A. Hart, 2026; vacancy, alternate.
David L. Mayer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer (appointed by Commission)
Sharmila Samarasinghe, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
750 First St., NE, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 384-1520
e-mail: correspondence@wmsc.gov
web: https://wmsc.gov/
For the safety oversight of all fixed rail transit facilities, Federal law requires that a legally and financially independent state authority be created (49 U.S.C. 5329). Consequently, the intention of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia was to create the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission to serve as the state safety oversight authority for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system. Of these three jurisdictions, Maryland was the first to legally mandate the Commission.
In March 2017, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission was authorized by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by the Governor (Chapter 3, Acts of 2017). Passed as an emergency measure in Maryland, similar legislation was passed both by Virginia and the District of Columbia. Further, the Commission was approved by the U.S. Congress in 2017 (115 Joint Resolution no. 76, 131STAT.1093). Following the federal certification process by the Federal Transit Administration, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission became the safety oversight agency for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority on March 18, 2019.
For the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority Metrorail system, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) is the independent safety oversight authority responsible for enforcement and oversight off all safety-related practices. The Commission conducts safety event investigations, oversees corrective action plans, reviews Metrorail safety plans, and conducts regular inspections, audits, and other oversight.
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