WASHINGTON - Safety concerns over an aging fleet, despite a recession, has lawmakers ready to fork over millions to upgrade the Metrorail system.

Twenty-five percent of Metro's fleet, the series-1000 cars, are not crashworthy according to federal investigators. ABC 7 News learned that all nine victim's from Monday's crash were in a 1000-series car.

While Metro blames a lack of money for not being able to quickly replace those cars, fed up local leaders are trying to change this.

Amid the sorrow of the nine lives lost in Monday's rail disaster, there is fear. "I will never ride the Metro again," said Maggie Kramer, an area resident. "I can't -- I'm too scared."

And there's a growing sense of frustration from local leaders.U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. and other members of the Washington Congressional Delegation are pushing to quickly appropriate $3 billion in money that Metro can use over a 10-year period to improve a transit system now under scrutiny.

"That's just an unacceptable price for the public to pay," he said. "The Metro system is a success story warts and all but in that success were planted the seeds of this kind of tragedy."

Many lawmakers are mortified that Metro still doesn't have a dedicated source of funding. Every year, Metro has to ask the federal government, the District, Maryland and Virginia for much of its capital. Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. says that must change.

"Washington Metro really is America's subway and America needs to take ownership of this subway," she said.

Metro officials say they would gladly replace aging cars but at $3 million a pop, replacing all 300 would cost about $900 million

"These are cars that we are all committed to replacing and we are working to get the money to do that," said Metro Board Chair Jim Graham.

Even if new cars were ordered right away, Metro officials say it would take three to five years to get them on tracks. Sources say when the Metro board meets Thursday, members will consider all options -- including pulling some of those aging trains out of service.

 Email To Friend