Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission



Welcome to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (WMATC)

 The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (WMATC) was established in 1960 pursuant to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact, an interstate compact among Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia providing for regional regulation of private sector motor carriers transporting passengers for hire in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit District.

The Commission issues operating authority to van and bus operators and some sedan,SUV and limousine operators. Carriers holding authority from the Commission must file fixed rates and fares with the Commission and comply with Commission-prescribed insurance, safety and vehicle-marking regulations. The Commission also prescribes rates and charges for transportation by taxicab between one compact signatory and another, where both points are within the Metropolitan District.

Announcements

 

  • December 13, 2021:

      Notice of Commission meeting to be held on December 20, 2021, at 1:00 PM

 

      • July 2, 2021:

      In response to improving conditions relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the WMATC office will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

 

      • June 17, 2021:

      The Commission follows the federal government operating schedule and will be closed on Friday, June 18, 2021, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. It will reopen on Monday, June 21, 2021.

      • December 15, 2020:

     The Commission follows the federal government operating schedule and will be closed on Thursday, December 24, 2020. It will reopen on Monday, December 28, 2020.

 

          • November 23, 2020:

     Notice of Commission meeting to be held on December 4, 2020, at 10:00 AM

          • November 12, 2020:

    The Commission meeting previously scheduled for November 16, 2020, has been rescheduled for December 4, 2020, at 9 a.m.

              • November 09, 2020:

    Notice of Commission meeting to be held on November 16, 2020

              • September 21, 2020:

   Certain filing deadlines that were paused due to COVID-19, have now resumed, effective September 21, 2020, pursuant to WMATC General Order No. 26. Although the WMATC office continues to be closed to the public, staff is working remotely to continue agency functions and process filings. Most common types of filings can be e-filed through the WMATC website. In addition, filers may continue to submit documents by mail, delivery service, or drop-off delivery.

              • September 8, 2020:

Notice that the Commission meeting, previously scheduled for September 8, 2020, has been rescheduled and will be held on September 15, 2020

              • August 27, 2020:

Notice of Commission meeting to be held on September 8, 2020

              • April 27, 2020:

The Commission has issued an order which waives, in part, certain provisions of Commission Regulation Nos. 60-03, 67-01, and 67-04. This order postpones the date when a carrier’s operating authority will be suspended for failure to file a 2020 annual report, failure to pay a 2020 annual fee, or pay associated late fees, from May 1, 2020, to August 1, 2020. This order also waives up to one application filing fee of carriers whose request to voluntarily terminate a WMATC certificate of authority was granted by the Commission in 2020 and which subsequently reapply to obtain a certificate of authority on or before February 28, 2021. For more information, see WMATC General Order No. 24.

 

              • March 30, 2020:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WMATC office will be closed to the public effective March 31, 2020, until further notice. Commission staff will work remotely to continue mission-critical functions and be responsive to the public and to carriers. All filing deadlines are tolled while the office is closed. However, this pause in filing deadlines does not affect the requirement that carriers maintain proof of adequate insurance on file with the Commission (via the e-filing system) at all times. For more information about WMATC operating status,see WMATC General Order No. 23.

 

                • December 18, 2019:

The Commission follows the federal government operating schedule and will be closed on Monday, December 24, 2019. It will reopen on Wednesday, December 26, 2019.

 

                • March 22, 2019:

The WMATC office is moving. Beginning April 1, 2019, we will be located at 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1240, Silver Spring MD, 20910.

                • December 13, 2018:

The Commission follows the federal government operating schedule and will be closed on Monday, December 24, 2018. It will reopen on Wednesday, December 26, 2018.

                • December 6, 2018:

Notice of Commission meetings to be held December 14, 2018

                • December 4, 2018

The Commission’s office will be closed on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, in observance of a national day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush.

                • November 7, 2018

The Commission’s office will be closed on Friday, November 9, 2018. It will reopen on Tuesday, November 13.

                • September 10, 2018

The Commission has issued a notice of proposed ratemaking to consider amendments to the rates and charges for interstate trips in Washington Flyer taxicabs, which transport passengers to and from Washington Dulles International Airport. The proposal under consideration would increase a per trip surcharge on each trip originating or terminating at the airport from $2.65 to $3.00. Written comments are due no later than October 10, 2018. See the Rulemakings & Taxicab Ratemakings page.

                • December 1, 2017:

Notice of Commission meeting to be held on December 8, 2017

                • September 21, 2017

On September 20, 2017, an unauthorized person impersonating WMATC personnel sent an e-mail to WMATC carriers and others doing business with the Commission, falsely claiming a WMATC family member is sick and requesting donations. Although the e-mail address appears to be from WMATC, this e-mail is spam. Do not click on any links in this e-mail or donate any funds. WMATC does not solicit donations from the public and WMATC staff cannot accept anything of value from persons doing business with the Commission.

If you have any doubts as to whether an e-mail from WMATC is legitimate, call the Commission to confirm its authenticity before responding.

                • October 7, 2016:

Notice of Commission Meetings to be held on October 14, 2016

                • August 8, 2016:

The Commission has issued a notice of proposed ratemaking to consider amendments to the rates and charges for interstate trips in Washington Flyer taxicabs. Written comments are due no later than September 7, 2016. See the Rulemakings & Taxicab Ratemakings page.

                • November 19, 2015:

The Commission has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for the purpose of making amendments to Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and Regulations, Regulation Nos. 51-09 and 58-02(b). Written comments are due no later than January 4, 2015. See our Rulemakings & Taxicab Ratemakings page.

                • May 1, 2015:

Application filing fees, carrier annual fees, and fees for most other types of WMATC filings will increase on June 30, 2015. The new fee schedule was adopted by the Commission in Order No. 15,560.

                • February 6, 2015:

A 2013 injunction enjoining Reliable Limousine Service, LLC, Reliable Limousine and Bus Service, LLC, Paul Rodberg, and any other entity controlled by Paul Rodberg from transporting passengers for hire between points within the Metropolitan District was recently upheld on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A copy of the injunction can be found here . A copy of the appellate court’s opinion can be found here .

 

                • September 30, 2014:

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission approved a rate increase for Washington Flyer Taxicabs, which transport passengers to and from Dulles International Airport. The mileage rate increased from $2.00 per mile to $2.16 per mile. Waiting time charges also increased slightly. More details are available in Order Nos. 14,773 , 14,789, and 15,072. The new rates, which took effect June 19, 2014.

 

                • July 24, 2014:

The Commission has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for the purpose of making amendments to Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and Regulations, Regulation Nos. 54, 58, 60, and 67. Comments are due no later than August 25, 2014. See our Pending Proceedings page.

 

                  • February 12, 2012:

In cases of inclement weather, WMATC follows the federal government’s operating schedule.  To check the current operating status, visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/current-status

 

                    • Attention all Carriers:

In 2007, the District of Columbia enacted new vehicle registration requirements for chartered buses seating more than 15 passengers that are operated within the District of Columbia.  Under these new requirements, such vehicles must either: (1) be registered as a commercial vehicle within Washington D.C. and bear Washington DC license plates; (2) be registered in their home state with apportioned license plates; or (3) display a valid trip permit from the DC Department of Motor Vehicles.  A trip permit costs $50, lasts 6 days, and covers only one specific vehicle.

Compliance with this new law does not exempt a carrier from WMATC requirements, and possession of WMATC operating authority does not exempt a carrier from compliance with the new District of Columbia law.  For more information about the new D.C. charter bus requirements, contact the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles at (202) 729-7083 or visit https://dmv.dc.gov/node/1119517.