Federal agency to supervise Metro safety

In no uncertain terms, the National Transportation Board said last month that the current oversight system for Metro is inadequate and recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration (which typically oversees freight and passenger lines, such as Amtrak and MARC) take over from the Federal Transit Administration.

“[The TOC] lacks sufficient resources, technical capacity, and enforcement authority to provide the level of oversight that is needed”, Foxx said in a letter announcing the transfer.

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in a letter late Friday that the metro safety will be placed under Federal Transit Administration due to recent accidents, like an incident in January when the metro tunnel filled with smoke, killing one person. “The FTA may be able to proceed on its own, but I will continue to work with my Republican colleagues and the Administration on appropriate language to be included in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill”.

Instead, Foxx wrote on Friday: “We believe this approach accomplishes the same goals as the NTSB’s urgent recommendations, albeit with greater speed and within the responsible agency”.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking over oversight of the Washington, D.C. Metrorail subway system after a series of safety lapses that prompted calls for a federal intervention into regulation of the capital area transit agency.

On Thursday, Metro’s interim general manager admitted the transit system is “at a low point.” Efforts to hire a permanent leader have been bogged down by in-fighting among board members.

“The NTSB found little improvement in WMATA’s safety oversight since the 2009 Metrorail accident in Fort Totten that killed nine people”, Hart wrote. “According to the NTSB, that agency is the FRA and not the FTA”.

Connolly echoed Foxx’s concern about the leadership void at Metro.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who has been outspoken about Metro’s failures, said the safety of the transit system must continue to be a top priority.

“Certainly from our perspective in the District, I think we’re working from the same page to make sure that the system is the best that it can be”, Bowser told WTOP after the meeting.

“Metro riders are fed up with the status quo of chronic delays and significant safety issues”, he said.