Metro SubwayLink shutdown prompts transit agency to reorganize

The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) yesterday unveiled an organizational restructuring aimed at keeping the agency on track to complete more than $900 million in rail infrastructure upgrades.

The restructuring was initiated in response to feedback received through an American Public Transportation Association (APTA) peer review.

MDOT MTA has reorganized staff so that its track and structural engineering department report directly to the deputy chief operating officer of rail. The move follows a systemwide shutdown of the Metro SubwayLink system in February.

"Aligning both engineering and operations under the same managing director will allow for more executive oversight and accountability of MDOT MTA's rail maintenance program, including development of ongoing training schedules, procedures for evaluating rail testing data and formal process for specification review," MDOT MTA officials said in a news release.

The reorganization also addresses a lack of communication and coordination between departments that was a "significant contributing factor" to the subway shutdown.

Since February, MDOT MTA has replaced more than 39,000 linear feet of rail on the subway system.

The peer review also recommended that MDOT MTA implement mobile technology to complete inspection reports at field level.

The APTA peer review was completed by rail maintenance leaders at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and the Chicago Transit Authority.