FTA Audit Finds Significant Safety Issues at Metro and TOC

Press Release

At the request of U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Federal Transit Administrator (FTA) Peter Rogoff today briefed members of the National Capital Region Congressional Delegation on FTA's new safety audit of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) and the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC). The audit identified significant safety issues and made recommendations to address them.

Senator Mikulski was joined at the briefing by U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Webb (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).

"I found this audit to be shocking, hair raising and chilling," Senator Mikulski said. "I commend the FTA for its promptness in completing the audit and I'm impressed by the methodology they used. This audit provides us a roadmap of what needs to be done to create a sense of urgency around safety at Metro. It also confirms the importance of Congress giving FTA the authority to create and enforce national safety standards for transit systems like Metro."

Key findings of the FTA audit include:

* Metro doesn't have the manpower to implement its safety program,
* Metro doesn't have a list of its top 10 safety and hazard concerns and could not produce this list after FTA's request,
* Metro's Safety Department has been re-organized 6 times since 2006. The department has had 3 different titles and 4 different people in charge since 2007. Ten of the departments 41 staff positions are vacant and whether the head of safety reports directly to the General Manager has changed several times.
* The Safety Department does not analyze Metro's budget and unmet funding needs for potential hazards,
* Metro doesn't have a process to ensure timely identification and evaluation of safety hazards,
* Safety analysis is not being performed to prioritize hazards for elimination and mitigation,
* As of November 23, 2009, 63 accident/incident investigations dating back to April 2006 were open. Metro hasn't investigated 57 of these largely because it does not have the resources,
* Metro had 140 open corrective action plans from prior accidents/incidents at the end of October 2009. Sixty-six of these were open when FTA did the audit,
* The highest levels of Metro management do not receive regular reports about safety concerns and issues,
* The Metro Board rarely requests formal hazard analysis or information on how operating maintenance or budget decisions may have safety impacts or how the agency is addressing safety-related concerns.

"This is the most disturbing report that I have received since I have been in the U.S. Congress. As a regional delegation we have fought for better and more consistent funding for current and expanded Metro operations. Now Metro must step up to make critical internal improvements and the Federal Transit Administration needs to have the authority to provide strong oversight. Together, we will restore "America's Subway System' as one of the safest and most reliable transit system in the country," said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

"These audit findings are stunning. A safe, well-run Metro system is crucial to this region's economy and our federal workforce," said Virginia Senator Mark R. Warner. "I strongly urge Metro leadership to look for ways to implement these safety recommendations so that we can better ensure the safety of Metro riders and employees. WMATA also needs to work quickly to improve communication and collaboration with the Tri-State Oversight Commission."

"The safety of Metro system riders and workers is of the utmost priority," stated Congressman Steny Hoyer. "I want to thank Senator Mikulski for calling on the Federal Transit Administration to offer its perspective on the current oversight of Metro's safety and its recommendations for improvements. Given the federal investment in this critical system, we are committed to providing continued oversight and helping ensure that Metro runs as safely and efficiently as possible."

"Today's report highlights both systemic issues with the way WMATA handles safety oversight and serious gaps in our nation's transit safety program. I expect WMATA and the Tri-State Oversight Committee to take these recommendations seriously and implement them expeditiously. At the same time, I look forward to working with Administrator Rogoff to build a framework of safety standards and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that every transit rider can expect a safe and efficient system," said Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

"Metro is a critical component of the National Capitol Region's public transportation, and therefore safety must always be a top priority," said Congresswoman Edwards. "I thank Senator Mikulski for requesting this audit to identify key improvements to help ensure Metro is a safe mode of transportation for both commuters and Metro employees. I am confident that the recommendations presented in the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) safety audit will improve safety significantly across the Metro system, and call on the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority leadership to review and implement these recommendations as quickly as possible."

"The fortunes of the federal government and Metro are inherently linked, a point reinforced by the record four-and-a-half day shutdown of the federal government and Congress during last month's snowfall when Metro could not operate above ground," Congressman Gerry Connolly said. The regional delegation is committed to the long-term health of Metro, and we are dedicated to protecting the safety of its riders and employees. This report highlights fundamental safety and communications shortfalls across the board, and we await action from all involved to address this troubling situation."

Senator Mikulski requested the audit in November 2009 after learning that Metro had denied TOC safety inspectors access to Metro's train tracks. The FTA audit was to do four things: one, examine the accident investigation process Tri-State Oversight Committee requires of Metro; two, examine how Tri-State Oversight Committee and Metro develop, monitor and implement safety corrective action; three, assess Metro's internal safety audit program; and four, provide recommendations to improve communications and effectiveness between Metro and Tri-State Oversight Committee. For the full text of the FTA audit, visit http://mikulski.senate.gov/_pdfs/Press/FinalSSOAuditReportTOCWMATA03022010.pdf.