The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently issued multiple special directives to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).
Special directive require an FTA-regulated transit agency or oversight organization to take immediate action on safety issues within a specific period.
Four directives were issued to the MBTA. They concern Operating Control Center staffing; general safety operating procedures; delayed critical maintenance, and lapses in staff safety certifications. Timeframes for responses and taking actions range from 24 hours to 35 days.
One directive was issued to the DPU, the state agency responsible for safety oversight of the MBTA’s rail transit operations. It affirms the need for the agency to enforce MBTA’s directives. It also addresses safety issues discovered during FTA’s October audit.
FTA will provide technical assistance to MBTA and the DPU.
FTA conducted a safety management inspection following several incidents that resulted in several injuries to passengers and employees on MBTA’s transit rail systems and one fatality.
The MBTA, the MBTA Board of Directors, and the DPU must work together, according to the directives, to address the safety concerns and improve MBTA’s safety program and culture. They also must adopt system-wide measures to fix longstanding issues.