900                                 Laws of Maryland                         [Ch. 613

monwealth of Virginia constitute a highly developed and integrated
metropolitan area, and its economic well-being and the comfort and
welfare of the citizens thereof require free and easy movement of
persons and vehicles within the area; and

Whereas, the movement of persons and vehicles within the metro-
politan area is being hampered by the congestion of traffic in all areas
of the metropolitan area and by the lack of adequate and coordinated
mass transit facilities; and

Whereas, such conditions, which will be aggravated by the contin-
ued growth and expansion of the metropolitan area, imperil the safety
of the public and constitute a serious impediment to the safe, adequate
and speedy travel to and from their homes and places of employment
of persons living in such areas and persons traveling through such
areas, and occasion great economic loss; and

Whereas, such conditions stem in part from the fact that respond
sibility for dealing with the problems involved is divided among the
District of Columbia, State of Maryland, Commonwealth of Virginia
and Federal Government, and from the lack of an area-wide basic
policy on the movement of persons and vehicles; and

Whereas, the elimination of unnecessary transit and traffic prob-
lems is of prime importance to the people of the metropolitan area
and travelers through the area; and

Whereas, the National Capital Planning Commission and the
National Capital Regional Planning Council, agencies of the Govern-
ment of the United States, have undertaken, with the assistance and
cooperation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Mary-
land, and the District of Columbia, a comprehensive study of the mass
transit requirements for the metropolitan area, and

Whereas, the regulation of transit on a coordinated basis through-
out the area without regard to political and legal jurisdictional boun-
daries through the cooperation of the States of Maryland and Virginia
and the District of Columbia by and through a common agency, with
the advice and assistance of all agencies of local government whose
activities affect the movement of persons and vehicles, is a proper
and necessary step looking towards the alleviation of transit and
traffic problems in the metropolitan area,

NOW, THEREFORE,

The States of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia,
hereinafter referred to as signatories, do hereby covenant and agree
as follows:

TITLE I

General Compact Provisions
ARTICLE I

259. There is hereby created the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit District, hereinafter referred to as Metropolitan District,
which shall embrace the District of Columbia, the cities of Alexandria
and Falls Church, the counties of Arlington and Fairfax, and political
subdivisions of the State of Virginia located within those counties,