WASHINGTON – The Federal Transit Administration is launching its own investigation into Metro’s deadly smoke incident last month and will focus on safety.
The agency will review both Metro’s bus and rail systems for maintenance practices, communication between staff and management and will review training practices. Additionally, the agency will audit the Tri-State Oversight Committee, which oversees Metrorail.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Transportation says the reviews are intended to assess any weaknesses or strengths and to provide steps the local transit system can take to reduce risks and improve the overall safety of Metro.
The reviews are separate from the National Transportation Safety Board‘s investigation, which is focused on rooting out the cause of the smoke that filled a Metro train and tunnel, killing one person and sending dozens of other riders to the hospital on Jan. 12. The NTSB is also looking into the emergency response and radio communication problems.
Federal safety inspections are expected to begin in March.
Metro underwent a similar review in 2012, which highlighted the transit authority’s progress to improve safety and suggested areas that needed work, according to a statement from Metro board chair Mort Downey.
“The Federal Transit Administration has an important role in transit safety … and we welcome their participation as all of us — Board, management, employees and other stakeholders – work to make Metro an even safer system,” Downey says.
