Federal Employees Could Be Chauffeured During SafeTrack

ashley.rae | September 14, 2016
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While many commuters on the accident-plagued (and federally subsidized) Washington D.C. Metro system have been suffering through SafeTrack’s train delays, reduced service, and station closures, federal workers may be getting an easier commute courtesy of the taxpayers.

According to a press release from Rep. Mark Meadows’ (R-N.C.) office, the congressman reintroduced legislation on Tuesday that would “allow federal employees who receive metro benefits to be able to apply those same benefits to ride sharing services such as Uber, Lyft, and others.”

The bill was reintroduced “with an extended deadline to reflect the announcement that SafeTrack construction will occur longer than originally planned. The new benefit transfer will now be applicable through the end of 2018.”

Meadows’ bill comes as Congress recently mandated federal workers could receive up to $255 a month to ride the Metro, up from the previous $130 a month.

Under Meadows’ plan, federal workers can use their $255 allotment to commute using private car rides instead of slumming it out with the rest of the population.

Taxpayers across the Washington, D.C. area are already paying the cost of WMATA’s $1.8 billion 2016 fiscal budget, including the approximately $60 million reportedly being spent on SafeTrack. Now, taxpayers also going to be paying for federal workers to ride to work in chauffeured BMWs while they’re stuck in hot cars, or braving the Metro's hazardous railways.

“During a time when WMATA is getting its house in order, federal commuters have been frustrated at their lack of timely options for getting in to work,” Meadows said in his press release.

“My hope is that this bill will allow federal workers to expand their commuting options and not require them to depend on a sole, unreliable form of transportation during WMATA’s time period of construction.”

The bill’s co-sponsors include Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.).

Comstock said, “As long as SafeTrack is in effect, federal employees must be offered alternative methods of transportation, including ridesharing platforms. This bill will provide them with much-needed flexibility while Metro tries to get itself to safe and working order.”

No word on whether Meadows, Connolly, or Comstock are planning to support a commuter relief program for the rest of us.

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