MBTA releases track maintenance audit and safety review

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has released of two reports focused on track maintenance safety: an independent report conducted by Carlson Transport Consulting LCC and an internal review by the MBTA Safety Department.

The investigations revealed deficiencies in track inspection processes, including inconsistencies in documentation and oversight, MBTA officials said in a news release.

Both reports conclude changes were needed in leadership, standardizing procedures, increasing staffing and training, and clearly outlining roles and responsibilities.

Some safety restrictions already were put in place in March, and MBTA has hired veteran engineers and establishing standard operating procedures for inspections and documentation practices. 

"These reports validate what I anticipated and observed since I first joined [the agency] in April, and having seen similar challenges over my career across other agencies striving to change longstanding practices, I know the changes we have made to date are the building blocks to the organizational changes needed here," said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng.

In March, the Department of Public Utilities inspected the Red Line and found insufficient documentation of track repairs. The MBTA then commissioned an independent investigation into track inspection failures that prompted systemwide speed restrictions.

The investigation revealed inconsistent defect identification, lack of defect verification, inadequate oversight of inspections and inappropriate track geometry criteria. The MBTA Safety Department's internal report aligned with the findings.