WMATA training rail roadway workers under old rules, safety panel finds

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) last week ordered  the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to address shortcomings in its Metrorail roadway worker protection program (RWP).  

WMSC found that numerous, separate changes to the RWP rules and procedures were being implemented without training updates, causing workers to be trained under outdated regulations. Until WMATA can develop a process for annual revisions and can ensure employees have the necessary training updates for the changes, the RWP will be maintained as-is, according to a WMSC press release. 

Effective Oct. 1, the WMATA will be required to propose revisions to the RWP program to the WMSC for review and approval. WMATA also be required to demonstrate how training will be updated, provided to transit workers, and tracked. 

“As Metrorail continues to work on plans to improve roadway worker safety, this order will help ensure that Metrorail implements these changes in a comprehensive manner,” said WMSC Chief Executive Officer David Mayer. More details regarding the WMSC’s review and the actions Metrorail must take are available in the order, which is available to read in full here.