Three WMATA safety recs closed by NTSB

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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WMATA

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed three safety recommendations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).  

 

The newly closed recommendations include the final remaining recommendation from the 2009 Red Line collision near Fort Totten, which officials said called for the replacement of all 1000-series railcars.

“The closure of this recommendation is the result of the board’s investment in 7000-series railcars and reflects nearly eight years of hard work and commitment from many staff members throughout the organization,” said WMATA General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We are committed to improving safety and continue to work to address all remaining NTSB safety recommendations.”

Through the transit authority’s Back2Good program, WMATA said it expedited the retirement of the 1000- and 4000-series railcars, which permanently removed all such railcars from service in June 2017. WMATA said it replaced the railcars with newer, safer and more reliable 7000-series railcars.

NTSB also closed two recommendations to create and implement operational procedures and training for tunnel ventilation in response to the 2015 smoke incident at L’Enfant Plaza.

The three recommendations closed by NTSB are:

• Remove all 1000-series railcars as soon as possible and replace them with cars that have crashworthiness collision protection at least comparable to the 6000-series railcars
• Develop and implement detailed written tunnel ventilation procedures for operations control center staff that take into account the probable source location of smoke and fire, the location of the train, the best evacuation route, and unique infrastructure features; these procedures should be based on the most effective strategy for fan direction and activation to limit passengers’ exposure to smoke.
• Incorporate the use of the procedures into your ongoing training and exercise programs and ensure that operations control center staff and emergency responders have ample opportunities to learn and practice activating ventilation fans.

WMATA said it had 29 open safety recommendations at the start of 2018, and it has since closed three recommendations and sent in 12 for closure. The transit authority will continue work on closing the remaining 14 recommendations, the company said.

“Metro continues to invest in safety, with a record $1.16 billion in capital spent last year to improve track infrastructure safety, railcar reliability and escalator performance,” WMATA said.

Another $1.25 billion in capital is expected to be invested during fiscal year 2018, WMATA said, such as a new preventive maintenance program to enhance the safety and reliability of track infrastructure.

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