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FTA says Metro is late with plans for several safety improvements FTA says Metro is late with plans for several safety improvements
(about 3 hours later)
Metro is late in submitting plans to correct some of the numerous problems found during a federal safety inspection of the its rail and bus systems last spring, the Federal Transit Administration says. Metro is late in submitting plans to correct some of the numerous problems found during a federal safety inspection of the rail and bus systems last spring, the Federal Transit Administration says.
But Metro contends it is late in filing five “corrective action” measures only because federal officials abruptly changed the due dates, giving Metro less time. The FTA says it did so to prevent the transit agency from dragging its feet — a result of what appears to be growing impatience among federal officials with Metro’s progress on safety improvements.But Metro contends it is late in filing five “corrective action” measures only because federal officials abruptly changed the due dates, giving Metro less time. The FTA says it did so to prevent the transit agency from dragging its feet — a result of what appears to be growing impatience among federal officials with Metro’s progress on safety improvements.
In another example, on Monday, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that Maryland, Virginia and the District are moving too slowly in creating an agency to monitor Metro safety. Foxx said the jurisdictions could lose millions of dollars in federal transit funds if they don’t expedite their efforts. He gave them a year to complete the process.In another example, on Monday, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that Maryland, Virginia and the District are moving too slowly in creating an agency to monitor Metro safety. Foxx said the jurisdictions could lose millions of dollars in federal transit funds if they don’t expedite their efforts. He gave them a year to complete the process.
[Delay in creating Metro safety agency could be costly, Foxx warns][Delay in creating Metro safety agency could be costly, Foxx warns]
As for the five delinquent corrective action plans, there are no immediately consequences for Metro, FTA spokesman Steven Kulm said Tuesday.As for the five delinquent corrective action plans, there are no immediately consequences for Metro, FTA spokesman Steven Kulm said Tuesday.
“It’s not like they’re going to be fined or anything like that,” he said. “But we’re going to keep the pressure on them. We’ve got our public website showing that they’re behind schedule. And we’re continuing to work with them on that on a daily basis.”“It’s not like they’re going to be fined or anything like that,” he said. “But we’re going to keep the pressure on them. We’ve got our public website showing that they’re behind schedule. And we’re continuing to work with them on that on a daily basis.”
After the Jan. 12, 2015, incident in which smoke from a electrical malfunction engulfed a stalled train in a Metro tunnel, killing one rider and sickening scores of others, the FTA launched a weeks-long safety inspection of the subway and bus systems. The report, issued in June, listed 51 safety problems that required 91 corrective steps.After the Jan. 12, 2015, incident in which smoke from a electrical malfunction engulfed a stalled train in a Metro tunnel, killing one rider and sickening scores of others, the FTA launched a weeks-long safety inspection of the subway and bus systems. The report, issued in June, listed 51 safety problems that required 91 corrective steps.
Of the 91 plans, eight have been filed by Metro and are under FTA review, and 78 more are due to be filed in coming months.Of the 91 plans, eight have been filed by Metro and are under FTA review, and 78 more are due to be filed in coming months.
[Here’s where you can track Metro’s progress in correcting its safety issues][Here’s where you can track Metro’s progress in correcting its safety issues]
The five that are late were due to be submitted by last month, according to the FTA. Those corrective plans are supposed to address problems related to the quality of track inspections, the training of certain Metro workers, the installation of tunnel smoke detectors and Metro’s system for investigating rail accidents.The five that are late were due to be submitted by last month, according to the FTA. Those corrective plans are supposed to address problems related to the quality of track inspections, the training of certain Metro workers, the installation of tunnel smoke detectors and Metro’s system for investigating rail accidents.
[FTA inspection finds significant Metro safety flaws][FTA inspection finds significant Metro safety flaws]
In September, four months after the report was issued, Metro provided estimated submission dates for each of the 91 corrective plans, including January dates for the five plans that are now late. But Metro said the five due dates were later reset for March and April.In September, four months after the report was issued, Metro provided estimated submission dates for each of the 91 corrective plans, including January dates for the five plans that are now late. But Metro said the five due dates were later reset for March and April.
“Metro has had coordination meetings with FTA over the past several months to discuss and refine completion dates,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in an email. Last week, however, the FTA “changed their website to use ‘original’ estimated completion dates, which in some cases are earlier than what both agencies had previously agreed.”“Metro has had coordination meetings with FTA over the past several months to discuss and refine completion dates,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in an email. Last week, however, the FTA “changed their website to use ‘original’ estimated completion dates, which in some cases are earlier than what both agencies had previously agreed.”
Kulm, the FTA spokesman, agreed with Stessel on that point.Kulm, the FTA spokesman, agreed with Stessel on that point.
Metro “changed their dates for a few of the corrective actions, and the FTA made those updates” to the schedule, Kulm said in an email. But last week, Kulm said, the FTA abruptly reverted to the earlier due dates. That meant Metro suddenly was late with five plans.Metro “changed their dates for a few of the corrective actions, and the FTA made those updates” to the schedule, Kulm said in an email. But last week, Kulm said, the FTA abruptly reverted to the earlier due dates. That meant Metro suddenly was late with five plans.
Kulm said the FTA took that action “in the interest of transparency and to more easily monitor [Metro’s] progress” in addressing the safety issues.Kulm said the FTA took that action “in the interest of transparency and to more easily monitor [Metro’s] progress” in addressing the safety issues.
As for Metro not facing immediate consequences for being late, Kulm said that is because the dates are Metro’s estimated dates, not statutory or FTA-set deadlines. At some point much later, if Metro were to fall massively behind schedule without good cause, the FTA could seek to withhold federal funds, Kulm said. But Metro is not close to that point yet.As for Metro not facing immediate consequences for being late, Kulm said that is because the dates are Metro’s estimated dates, not statutory or FTA-set deadlines. At some point much later, if Metro were to fall massively behind schedule without good cause, the FTA could seek to withhold federal funds, Kulm said. But Metro is not close to that point yet.
[Metro is the only major U.S. subway under federal safety oversight][Metro is the only major U.S. subway under federal safety oversight]
After the smoke incident and revelations of other Metro safety shortcomings last year, Foxx took the unusual step of putting the FTA in charge of monitoring the safety of the transit agency’s subway operations. A 2012 law gives the FTA the ability to assume safety oversight in the absence of effective state or local oversight.After the smoke incident and revelations of other Metro safety shortcomings last year, Foxx took the unusual step of putting the FTA in charge of monitoring the safety of the transit agency’s subway operations. A 2012 law gives the FTA the ability to assume safety oversight in the absence of effective state or local oversight.
Under FTA oversight, day-to-day operations continue under the auspices of Metro, but FTA officials can intervene when safety concerns arise. They also can conduct surprise inspections and issue directives to Metro to immediately address safety problems in the system.Under FTA oversight, day-to-day operations continue under the auspices of Metro, but FTA officials can intervene when safety concerns arise. They also can conduct surprise inspections and issue directives to Metro to immediately address safety problems in the system.
The arrangement is supposed to be temporary, until Maryland, Virginia and the District create a new agency. But after learning that the jurisdictions have no immediate plans to take legislative action to establish such an agency, Foxx warned that they risk losing millions of dollars in federal funds if they fail to form a safety-oversight body this year.The arrangement is supposed to be temporary, until Maryland, Virginia and the District create a new agency. But after learning that the jurisdictions have no immediate plans to take legislative action to establish such an agency, Foxx warned that they risk losing millions of dollars in federal funds if they fail to form a safety-oversight body this year.