NPC Luncheon with WMATA CEO Paul Wiedefeld

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld discussed the future of the transit system at a National Press Club luncheon on March 7, 2016. Metro is entering its most challenging period since it opened 40 years ago. It’s facing declining ridership combined with rising expenses and a fractured leadership structure among the four jurisdictions that govern the system. Serious safety lapses over the years have caused deaths while everlasting repairs and reduced service have caused riders to choose other transportation options. Wiedefeld took over as Metro's top official in November after serving as CEO of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Prior to leading BWI, Wiedefeld’s career included service as Administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, where he managed day-to-day operations of the nation’s 13th largest transit system, including commuter rail (MARC), subway, light rail, buses, and paratransit services.