The Latest: Congressman says DC subway won’t get bailout

WASHINGTON – The Latest on a hearing in Congress about the safety of Washington’s subway system (all times local):

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3:30 p.m.

A House Republican says Congress won’t be bailing out the Washington area’s struggling subway system after a series of crises.

Rep. John Mica of Florida said at a hearing Wednesday that the Metro system has received more than $700 million in federal grants for capital improvements that haven’t been spent. He says Metro’s problems can be traced to poor management.

Last month, Metro’s general manager made the unprecedented decision to shut down the system for an entire day for emergency safety inspections. At the time, he said he couldn’t guarantee that the system was safe after two fires caused by faulty power cables.

Metro’s board chairman, Jack Evans, says the problems can be traced in part to a lack of dedicated funding that has led to deferred maintenance.

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5:50 a.m.

Congress is set to ask questions about the safety of the Washington area’s subway system after an unprecedented daylong shutdown.

The Metro system’s general manager and other officials will answer questions from two House oversight subcommittees at a hearing Wednesday afternoon.

In prepared testimony, Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld says he’s found “systemic issues with regard to track, power and car maintenance” that need to be addressed.

Wiedefeld decided to shut down the system for emergency track inspections last month after an electrical fire that was similar to a fire that killed a passenger last year.

Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican who chairs one of the subcommittees, says in his prepared remarks that Metro “has become synonymous with poor service, delays and rampant safety concerns.”