Appointed by Governor of Maryland: Lawrence Brenner
Appointed by Governor of Virginia: Richard D. Holcomb
Appointed by Mayor, District of Columbia: Terry L. Bellamy
William S. Morrow, Jr., Esq., Executive Director & General Counsel
8701 Georgia Ave., Suite 808, Silver Spring, MD 20910 - 3700
(301) 588-5260; fax: (301) 588-5262
e-mail: info@wmatc.gov
web: www.wmatc.gov
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission was established in 1961 to regulate the commercial transportation of passengers in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan District, now the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit District. The Commission was created by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact, an agreement among Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. Maryland ratified the Compact in 1959 (Chapter 613, Acts of 1959). Amended by Maryland in its entirety in 1988, the revised compact became effective in February 1991 after ratification by Virginia and the District of Columbia (Chapter 273, Acts of 1988).
Fares, regulations, and practices of transportation companies and interstate taxicabs in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit District are set by the Commission. Created by the Compact, the District embraces the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George's counties, Maryland; the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia; and Arlington and Fairfax counties, Virginia. Also, for the purpose of setting interstate taxicab rates, the District includes that portion of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, which holds BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The Commission has three members. One is named by the Governor of Maryland from the Maryland Public Service Commission. The Governor of Virginia also appoints one from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and one is chosen by the Mayor of the District of Columbia from the District Public Service Commission. Each member's term coincides with the term of office in the agency from which the member is selected. Commission expenses are allocated annually in proportion to the population of each signatory in the Metropolitan District. Maryland's share in Fiscal Year 2009 is 47.48 percent, or $343,280 (Code Transportation Article, sec. 10-203).
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