Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 13, 2006

Metro Board of Directors Seeks Public Input on How To Enhance Its Governance Role

In an effort to enhance and strengthen its leadership in a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging environment, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Board of Directors is seeking public comment over the next month on how it can enhance their governing role, structure and processes.

Earlier this year, the Metro Board participated in a strategic work session to discuss developments in the rapidly changing field of mass transit governance and brainstormed ways to strengthen its leadership. Following the work session, the Metro Board established a governance task force to develop several initiatives.

As a result of task force, a draft action report was developed which includes the following recommendations:

• Making a formal commitment to Board capacity building. This action recommends that the Board adopt the “Commitment to Board Capacity Building.”

• Strengthening the Board’s governing structure. This action recommends that the Board adopt a structure of four standing committees to assist in carrying out its mission: governance, planning and budget development; operational monitoring/audit; and external/legislative relations.

• Ensuring a strong, productive Board-General Manager partnership. This action recommends that the Board assign overview of the Board and General Manager partnership to the Board’s new Governance Committee.

• Strengthening the Board’s self-management capability. This action recommends that the Board’s Governance Committee takes responsibility for Metro’s Board management of itself as a governing body.

• Develop the Board’s strategic decision-making role. This action recommends that the Board’s Planning and Budget Development Committee take responsibility for working closely with the General Manager in designing a process for involving the Board in strategic decision-making.

The entire report is available for public review for a period of 30 days. Please return any comments to Ms. Debra A. Johnson, Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Comments may be sent via U.S. mail to 600 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 or electronically to boardsecretary@wmata.com by 5 p.m., Monday, November 13. Please reference the Governance Task Force Draft Action Report in the response.

News release issued on October 13, 2006.