### Company Overview & Leadership
WMATA operates one of the nation's largest mass transit systems [7], dedicated to moving people safely and efficiently [7]. The organization's long-term strategy, *Your Metro, The Way Forward*, guides day-to-day decision-making and provides the framework for achieving its vision [7]. Governance and policy oversight are managed by the Board of Directors [1], which includes representatives from D.C., WSTC, NVTC, and the Federal Government [3]. The agency maintains dedicated functions for public protection through the Transit Police [1] and independent, objective audits via the Inspector General [1].
The agency is subject to regulatory oversight by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) [10]. The WMSC, created in 2017 by Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, obtained federal certification in March 2019 to oversee Metrorail safety, taking over from FTA oversight [10]. The WMSC audits Metro operations on a rolling three-year cycle [10]. To ensure internal compliance, the Department of Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance & Oversight (Quality) was established in 2015 [10]. Quality conducts annual internal reviews, develops internal Corrective and Preventive Actions (iCAPA) processes, and facilitates the development and oversight of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) in response to regulatory findings [10].
The organization is led by a General Manager (GM) and CEO [[LINK:https://www.wmata.com/about/leadership/index.cfm][1], [LINK:https://www.wmata.com/upload/042816_2042816Agenda.pdf][3]]. Its core focus areas drive operational excellence and regional partnership: * **Leadership Team:** Board members include Mr. Evans (D.C.), Ms. Harley (WSTC), Mr. Corcoran (NVTC), and Mr. Downey (Federal Government) [3]. * **Strategic Goals:** The long-term strategy focuses on four goals: service excellence, talented teams, regional opportunity and partnership, and financial stewardship and resource management [7]. * **Workforce Strategy:** The "Talented Teams" goal emphasizes recruitment and retention, engagement, empowerment, and recognition, and professional and technical skill development [7]. * **Business Development:** The organization manages procurement and contracting opportunities [6] and offers five small business certification programs [6].
### Federal Market & Contracts
Metro facilitates business engagement through various channels, including advertising opportunities available on Metrobuses, Metrorail cars, and stations [1]. The organization manages procurement and contracting, allowing vendors to bid on sourced procurements [1], and the Small Business Programs Office administers five distinct small business certification programs [1]. Additionally, Metro offers the SmartBenefits program and is preparing for the upcoming launch of the New MetroSync Business System [1], [1].
Real estate activities include reviewing adjacent construction projects [1] and managing property sales. For instance, the Stone Straw Building in Washington, DC, was appraised at $6.5M [3] and received a selected bid of $8,582,700, calculated as the best net value after subtracting the maximum lease-back expense of $858,270 over two years [[LINK:https://www.wmata.com/upload/041416_3CStoneStrawSale.pdf][3], [LINK:https://www.wmata.com/upload/041416_3CStoneStrawSale.pdf][4]]. Separately, the District of Columbia seeks to acquire the Ames Place NE parking lot for the appraised fair market value of $8.5M [5]. Metro intends to lease back approximately 83,000 square feet of the Ames Place site for up to three years, incurring a maximum rental expense of $335,160 [6].
Oversight mechanisms have identified significant issues in financial and compliance reporting. A followup review of the 2014 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program evaluation revealed that DBE Commitments/Awards and Payments submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) contained a significant number of errors [7]. The OIG issued two recommendations to the Chief Procurement Officer to improve DBE program performance and validate the accuracy of the FTA Report [7]. An audit of the Invoice Certification and Payment Process found that while the PeopleSoft Financial system detects duplicate invoice numbers, operating and capital invoices were not always paid timely [8].
Strategically, the organization focuses on the Regional Opportunity & Partnership goal, aiming to align regional service networks, fare and service policies, and supporting infrastructure to increase transit use [12]. Key initiatives under this goal include implementing the Better Bus network redesign and initiating Metrorail service optimization to increase core frequency [13].
Additional financial and operational details include: * The OIG audit found that invoice certification policies and procedures had not been updated in three of four departments reviewed [14]. * The weighted average valuation interest rate across pension plans is 7.68% [15]. * Revenue generated from short-term parking meters totaled $21,492 in FY 2013 and $16,222 in FY 2014 [[LINK:https://www.wmata.com/upload/071416_3AKingStreetParkingPH.pdf][16], [LINK:https://www.wmata.com/upload/071416_3AKingStreetParkingPH.pdf][17]]. * Near-term strategic objectives include implementing simplified fare structure and launching a low-income fare program [18]. * The WMSC adopted all open Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) from the FTA during the transition of safety oversight in March 2019 [19].
### Certifications & Socioeconomic
Metro maintains a robust quality management framework overseen by the Department of Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance & Oversight (Quality), established in 2015 [3]. This department facilitates and monitors the timely completion of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) developed in response to findings from regulatory agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) [3]. Key safety oversight transitioned in March 2019 when the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC), created in 2017 by Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, obtained federal certification to enforce Metrorail safety practices [3]. The WMSC conducts annual audits of Metro operations on a rolling three-year cycle, requiring Metro to develop correction plans for any issued findings [[LINK:https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/transparency/