MBTA launches dashboard to monitor FTA safety orders

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority last week launched an online safety dashboard so the public can monitor the agency's progress on completing special safety orders from the Federal Transit Administration.

The MBTA developed 38 corrective plans containing 545 action items in response to the FTA's safety directives issued in 2022 following a safety management inspection report it published in August. The MBTA has completed 36% of the action items to date.

FTA conducted the inspection after a pattern of safety problems occurred, including derailments, collisions and fatalities.

The dashboard will be updated monthly.

"This work will support safety as a core value by communicating and building the infrastructure and organizational framework that will allow us to move forward," said MBTA Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville in a press release.

FTA issued four directives in August 2022, a follow-up to four other directives issued in June 2022. Also, FTA issued two directives — one in August and one in June 2022 — to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, which oversees safety at MBTA.

The MBTA is focused on four categories in response to the directives, according to the dashboard website:

• managing the impact of operations, maintenance and capital projects requirements on the available workforce;

• prioritization of data, systems and communication;

• effectiveness of quality management; and

• policies, rules, procedures and operating conditions.

Additionally, the dashboard includes a speed restriction report, the basis for a separate speed restriction dashboard to be launched later this month. That tool will inform riders on the location, speed limit and distance for each speed restriction along subway lines.