transit systems for the Washington metropolitan
area. The Commission works in conjunction with
the interstate authority in the development of the
regional rapid rail transit system, which has been
under construction since December 1969. The
first segment of the system—4.5 miles extending
from the Rhode Island Avenue Station to Farra-
gut North Station in downtown Washington, D.
C.—began revenue operations March 29, 1976.
With completion of an additional 5.5 miles of
track, the Red Line was extended from the
Rhode Island Station to Silver Spring, where the
first Maryland Station was ceremoniously opened
for revenue operations on February 6, 1978.

In February 1973, the interstate authority ac-
quired the operations of the areas* four privately-
owned bus companies and began immediate plans
for improving transit service in Montgomery and
Prince George's counties. The Commission acts as
the financial conduit through which funding of
mass transportation projects within the counties
take place. The Commission acts as the coordinat-
ing body with regard to mass transit matters with-
in the bi-county area, and as such coordinates
mass transit activities of the two county
governments with each other, with the Washing-
ton Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and
with the Maryland Department of Transportation.