Anyone who has spent time in Washington understands why the union station is the first stop to create big, beautiful things again on the crusade of President Trump.
What has been operated for 100 years as a memorial for American commerce, simplicity and greatness of connections that have now become a shameful subscription to our capital crime crisis.
The station was dilapidated. The shops were closed. The Vagency was on a large scale. Lack of leadership created an environment where tourists and railway passengers no longer feel safe. A central station that once represented a nation over an increase, has erased in the ruins built by people in the past of his chief.
Trump and I are now working to reverse this decline.
The Transport Department has a union station since the 1980s. Till last week, my department is regaining the station management after decades of bureaucracy inactivity. This is the previous time to restore security, revive economic activity and give overdose repair.
We will embrace a “one building” approach with the Union Station Revolutionary Corporation and AMTRK to beautify this historical landmark in the heart of our country’s capital. This means that immediate improvement in security, preparing the way for private investment, and working together to maximize the use of the station and clean the existing backlogs of projects.
Union station needs capital – roof and other major systems are estimated to cost lift, lighting and security – costing $ 170 million. The previous administration planned to pay more than $ 10 billion in 13 years for a grand expansion without addressing the basic needs of the historic station, reducing all the important elements such as parking.
We are going to take immediate action to make the union station beautiful and safe again, and we are going to do it at a fraction of that cost. The station already smells well and the cleaner looks only a few days after starting its effort.
The fixing union station is just one piece of puzzle to make DC re -make it great. Washington DC’s transit crime crisis is fatal. As the Transport Secretary, I think the status of our capital metro system is unacceptable.
Trump was right to call the country’s capital to lead for example in public safety. Under his direction, members of the National Guard are now patrolling the system. But the additional leadership should start with the metro, making it a safe, zero-optional atmosphere for violence-regardless of the age of criminals.
Before Trump deployed the National Guard and the federal police properly, the attacks on riders and employees were spicing. So far this year, Metro Transit police have reported 33 percent increase in arrests and quotes,
I saw anarchy on a visit to the metro station just outside the headquarters of my department when a patrol officer Was stabbed on faceCitizens who follow the law are being suffering-by repeating many teenage criminals who know that they face a slightly more than a slap on the wrist. In Washington, at least one bus driver is attacked every single day.
Let’s stop the problem: The teenage justice system of the district is broken, and it is putting the metro passengers and workers at risk.
Let’s review some recent cases. In March, a 19 -year -old Shoot a stranger in a V2 metro bus South -East DC – Another shooting hours on the same route 22nd and Minnesota Avenue,
In April, Gunfier exploded outside Petworth metro stationKilling one teenager and injuring the other.
In June, a triple shooting near Mount Vernon Square Metro Claimed the life of a Congress trainee and injured two others,
Just last month, A 15 -year -old was shot in a naval yard Neighborhood, then another teenager Block a stolen gun firing bus in adolescence,
These events suggest a war zone rather than the transit system, with data. The Trump administration will not tolerate this anarchy anymore.
In the last few weeks, the National Guards and our federal law enforcement peace are doing everything they can do. So far, residents of the district are watching Result,
Karjacking is 83 percent below. The robbery is 52 percent below. Violent crime in the board is 40 percent below. Illegal guns, drugs and criminals are finally being removed on the streets. Even DC Mayor Muril Boseer has said that he “appreciates a lot[s] Increase in law enforcement.
“We know that we have had low gun crime, less murders, and we have experienced excessive decrease in carjacking,” The mayor said Last week.
But the DC’s assigned government should do more. Why local leaders insist on recycling violent criminals – many of them back to buses and trains to continue nervousness – passengers? Although metro system Recently banned violent criminals One step forward represents, the district law often molds adolescent girls with meaningful punishment. This means that even those who commit serious crimes are quickly released, sometimes within hours, only to return to the system they were in danger.
What kind of message does criminal hunters send? Easy – commit a crime this morning, go back to the train committing more crimes by dinertime.
This is not just a DC problem. It is the capital of the country. Metro is one of the most busy public transit systems in the country. Tourists ride it. Federal workers trust this. Our nation runs on it. The union station is at its center.
To protect the riders and restore confidence, DC leaders have to change their juvenile justice laws to ensure that violent offenses – including armed attacks, firing and sexual offenses – include serious, applied punishment.
Metro restrictions should also be strengthened to repeat violent criminals, including teenagers, permanently prohibited using the system. We should also close the flaws that allow criminals to return to transit before solving their cases with violent allegations pending.
At the same time, metro security should be strengthened. The presence of an extended transit police in high -risk stations and in late night routes should focus on enforcement against armed teenagers and known repeated criminals.
In addition, the WMATA security feed should be fully integrated with the metropolitan police department of Washington and the US Attorney Office, ensuring rapid identification, arrest and prosecution.
We are going to convert the union station to a glorious center of commerce from a sub -center of crime.
Scene p. Dafi is the 20th secretary of transport and a former Congressman of Wisconsin.
