Updates on Jan.12 Metro Incident

Virginians deserve to know Metro is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of those who rely on the Metro system. Given the unacceptable breakdowns in safety that were highlighted by the fatal Jan. 12 incident at L’Enfant Plaza, comprehensive scrutiny is not only appropriate but completely essential. I am committed to ensuring Metro fixes these problems with a real sense of urgency and that systems are regularly tested going forward. 

• On January 13, the Virginia and Maryland delegations demanded a briefing on WMATA metro safety and training protocols.

• The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial investigation indicated that problems with emergency radio systems on Jan. 12 prevented DC fire and rescue personnel from communicating with each other and Metro officials at the scene, which impeded efforts to respond and evacuate riders.

• On Jan. 22,  I asked Metro and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to come up with a concrete plan to make sure it never happens again. There must be a more robust and transparent process for ensuring the interoperability of radio networks used by the region’s emergency responders.

• In response to my request, Metro and COG have pledged to implement a system to make sure that transit officials and first responders from all six local jurisdictions regularly test their emergency radio systems so they will be able to communicate with each other in the event of an accident. You can read their letter, which details their plan for implementing this new process, here.

• In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced on February 4, that it will conduct a comprehensive review of Metro’s overall safety management in order to identify needed improvements.