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WMATA 'Replacement' Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC)


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#21 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 September 2018 - 10:32 AM

WTOP radio 9/27/18:
 

Metrorail Safety Commission says it’s ready to be Metro watchdog

 

 

WASHINGTON — The local safety group set to take responsibility for Metro oversight by spring has completed and submitted its application to the Federal Transit Administration.

 

The Metrorail Safety Commission was first promised years ago, and the region’s lengthy delays in establishing it have led to ongoing withholding of federal transit funding for Maryland, Virginia and the District and sparked a federal takeover of direct safety oversight back in 2015.

 

Submitting the application this week triggers a transition process back to local oversight that the FTA outlined earlier this month

 

SNIP 

 

Metrorail Safety Commission Chairman Christopher Hart told the Metro Board’s safety committee Thursday morning that having a watchdog helps keeps a system’s eyes on the prize: continuous improvement of safety.

 

Continue here.

 

 

Metropolitan Council of Governments

Former NTSB Chair Christopher Hart elected Chairman, Metrorail Safety Commission

 

Metrorail Safety Commission Board



#22 CNJRoss

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 12:38 PM

FTA news release 3/18/19:

 
FTA Ready to Transfer WMATA Metrorail Safety Oversight to Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, Millions in Withheld Transit Funds Now Available

 

03-18-2019

 

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today certified the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission’s (WMSC) State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program. With this certification, responsibility for direct safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail system will transfer from the FTA to the WMSC at the close of Metrorail’s regular service hours today.

 

In addition, approximately $48.5 million in FTA grant funding, withheld due to the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia missing a prior SSO Program certification deadline, is now available to transit agencies across the three jurisdictions to invest in public transportation.

 

"FTA is certifying the WMSC to perform the direct safety oversight of WMATA Metrorail," said FTA Executive Director Matthew J. Welbes. "FTA appreciates the diligent cooperation of the WMSC during the transition process, and especially the actions and resources of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, dedicated to reach this important safety milestone."

 

The FTA-certified WMSC SSO Program strengthens state safety oversight of Metrorail in several ways. It ensures that the program adopts and enforces relevant federal and state safety laws, has the authority to investigate and enforce safety plans of WMATA Metrorail, is financially and legally independent from WMATA, and has a well-trained staff.

 

FTA assumed temporary and direct safety oversight in October 2015 from the Tri‑State Oversight Committee, the previous SSO Agency. Since then, FTA verified Metrorail has fully implemented 188 systemic safety improvements, and made progress on dozens of others, advancing a safer Metrorail system.   

 

While FTA will no longer have direct day-to-day safety oversight responsibility for Metrorail, it maintains its general safety authority for all State Safety Oversight Agencies and rail transit agencies across the country. 

 

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#23 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 March 2019 - 08:16 AM

WTOP Radio 3/18/19:
 

Metrorail safety oversight handed back to local leaders

 

 

Local leaders took back control of Metrorail safety oversight Tuesday, marking a long-awaited milestone and freeing up millions in federal funding for the region.

 

The Metrorail Safety Commission is a new local body certified by the Federal Transit Administration. The transfer of authority from the federal government to the commission allows $48.5 million — which had been withheld for over the last two years — to flow back to agencies across Maryland, Virginia and the District.

 

The commission has the authority to direct Metro to spend money on specific safety fixes and even, in the most extreme circumstances, order service be stopped.

 

The previous local oversight committee did not have such powers, and could get bogged down in regional disputes.

 

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#24 CNJRoss

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Posted 29 April 2019 - 06:22 AM

WTOP radio 4/29/19:

How many problems did the FTA find on Metro during 3 years of inspections?

 

 

The Federal Transit Administration has released its final batch of Metro inspection reports, completing the transfer of direct safety oversight for the rail system to the new Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.

 

Federal inspectors filed significantly fewer inspection reports in February and March than in previous months, as they shifted focus to shadowing staff from the new independent safety commission established by D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

 

The reports published Friday identified a handful of issues, but did not focus on any major new problems like ones identified in previously published inspections.

 

SNIP 

 

In all, from October 2015 through Mar. 18, 2018, FTA inspectors filed 1,234 reports noting 4,390 defects across the system.

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