FRA directs Metra to improve safety culture, technology

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday announced Chicago's Metra is "generally compliant" with federal safety regulations, but still needs to take immediate action to enhance its safety culture.

The FRA announced its findings after launching a "deep dive" safety assessment in June to analyze Metra's safety practices in response to three incidents that occurred in a one-week period.

FRA officials advised Metra to take steps to improve its safety culture and better utilize safety technology.

"Safety is our highest priority and after three serious safety incidents on Metra within a seven-day period, we proactively intervened," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "Our safety assessment identifies specific actions Metra should take to address risks to improve the safety of all passengers."

The FRA determined that Metra should:
• empower conductors to prioritize the safety of operations over collecting fares, on-time performance and customer service;
• ensure heightened crew interactions during higher risk operations;
• establish new procedures to strengthen the flow of information between operating lines and Metra headquarters;
• add technical skills training for managers;
• add safety measures and procedures that would provide a level of safety redundancy to protect crossover movements;
• implement a confidential close call reporting system; and
• immediately prioritize the acquisition, testing and installation of positive train control.

 "Continuous safety improvement must be the goal of every railroad," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "The roadmap we’ve laid out for Metra … is an opportunity for them to renew their commitment to safety and win back the faith of the traveling public."