Opinion ID: 718593
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Regulatory Authority Over Bus Service

Text: 2 In 1960, Congress gave its consent to Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia (the signatories) to enter into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact (the Compact). Pub.L.No. 86-794, tit. I, 74 Stat. 1031, 1031-35 (1960) (codified as amended at D.C. CODE ANN. § 1-2411 (1992)). The Compact established the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (the Commission) and gave it regulatory authority over, inter alia, privately owned bus companies providing passenger transportation services in the metropolitan area. Id. 3 In 1966, Congress and the signatories added a third title to the Compact, establishing WMATA but expressly prohibiting it from performing, directly or through a contractor, transit service by bus. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact (Title III), Pub.L.No. 89-774, tit. III, art. XIII, 80 Stat. 1324, 1344 (1966) (codified as amended at D.C. CODE ANN. § 1-2431(1992)). Congress lifted this prohibition in 1972 when it amended Title III. National Capital Area Transit Act of 1972 (the Act), Pub.L.No. 92-517, 86 Stat. 999 (1972). The Act directed WMATA to initiate negotiations with, among others, D.C. Transit System, Inc. (D.C. Transit) for the acquisition of its capital stock or its transit facilities used in connection with bus service in the Washington metropolitan area. Pub.L.No. 92-517, § 102(a), 90 Stat. 999, 1001. Since the acquisition of the bus companies, WMATA has been exclusively responsible for the provision of transportation [318 U.S.App.D.C. 14] services by bus in the metropolitan area.