mr. wiedefeld and national press club staffing to journalism institute stuff to the broadcast center for organizing today's luncheon and if you'd like a copy of the program or learn more about the national press club, go to the website, press.org. thank you. we are adjourned. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> if you missed any of the conversation from the national press club with the head of the d.c. metro, you can watch it online anytime, just go to c-span.org. over on capitol hill today, the senate returns at 3:00 eastern time, possibly finishing up work on legislation dealing with heroin and prescription drug abuse. the hill writes: the comprehensive addiction and recovery act appears to be on a glide path after minority leader harry reid confirmed last week that democrats would not block the legislation. they'll take a procedural vote today at 5:30. senators also hoping to help with the drinking water crisis in flint, michigan. a bipartisan group of lawmakers have been negotiating a deal as well as a

mr. wiedefeld saying he wdefy cannot predict what will happenl this afternoon.fton but through the heartff downtown washington, guys, fromf federal center southwest towe t foggy bottom single trackingckig here along the orange and blue lines and not sure of the impacts for this afternoon'son's commute.e. guys? >> what a mess it's been.a mess' bob barnard, thank you for that. >>> well, it h h tkittart to the work week, and a first check of the forecast. f rtod morning?. wta l> welcome back, holly.ol . go.soggy early week.ly w yes, low clouds and the drizzlei out there. here to stay.y. 50 now in washington.hin. fours north and west. west 45 in martinsburg and winchest winchester. 47 in hagerstown and these a temperatures not going to much lot today.loday winds out of the east and theofe north that will lock down the wo cool for the day today.ay there's your cloud cover. c cov and again damp, drizzle, most of the measurable rain out of heree now. but we're watching a few showerh kind o thhe pattern locked down here forner couple more days.ore d all rigunhtdn the seven day iny just a minute,

mr. wiedefeld will usher metro through a critical period. union contract negotiations are scheduled to begin this summer. please welcome to the national press club stage general manager and ceo paul wiedefeld. [ applause ] >> thank you, thomas. >> thank you for joining us today, sir. my first question. you have been in office three months. clearly there are a barrage of issues facing the nation's second busiest transportation system. how are you going to tackle and actually solve the problems facing metro? >> that's all? >> that's it. >> very good. >> easy question. >> if i could before starting there, i did want to introduce my board members that are here. because they are so important. michael goldman, mort downy. malcolm augustine and lav dorvsho and the first person i met at metro which is my station manager, ms. odom. nice to see you. my first day on the job i got to meet her. >> she's wearing a uniform, too. >> she is a good worker. all right. rephrase the question. >> i'm wondering your observations and your plan. you have been in offi

mr. wiedefeld up at night. work with vendors to develop a smart phone app surely make the days more exciting for the new general manager and ceo of the washington metro pol. he was the ceo of baltimore washington airport. he is credited with leading growth as the busiest passenger airport of the three airports in the metro washington region. now his attention is on the country's busiest subway system and a bus system. 40 years after the first metro railcar ferries residents to work and to sites, today's riders experience unpredictable time and must budget more time to reach their destination. on-time performance which measures how evenly spaced the trains are is below target particularly since the opening of the silver line. track work, outside of rush hour hobbles the system. maintenance systems including broken elevators and escalators creates stress for passengers, especially those on crutches or in wheelchairs. mr. wiedefeld rides the metro to work and has witnessed the frustration and extra time added when