Maryland and Virginia Senators Urge WMATA Acting GM to Keep Prioritizing Safety Culture at Metro | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

June 15, 2022

“This work can not watch for Mr. Clarke to hitch Metro later this summer season.”

As Metro proclaims the return to service of some 7000-Collection automobiles, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Each D-Md.) and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (Each D-Va.) are calling on Metro Interim Basic Supervisor Andy Off to make use of his remaining time on the helm of the area’s public transit company to “productively to lay the groundwork for a lasting course correction that reaches deep inside Metro that values guidelines, procedures, transparency, and accountability as a matter of routine.” With incoming Metro GM Randy Clarke not starting his tenure till late July, the senators acknowledged progress in direction of restoring service and addressing lapses in operator certifications, however pressed Off to go additional to start the mandatory work to “set up a new security tradition” and preserve communications with riders as proactive as attainable.

The complete letter follows and could be discovered right here.

Pricey Mr. Off:

Primarily based in your a few years of expertise at WMATA, you’re little doubt conscious of how vocal we now have been as advocates and champions for Metro and the necessary position it performs within the lives of Marylanders, Virginians, in addition to District residents and guests to the Nationwide Capital Area. So we’re inspired by the announcement at present that among the fleet of 7000 sequence automobiles will quickly return to income service and that you’re persevering with to work diligently to deal with lapses in practice operator certifications. This progress is welcome information, and we respect your efforts on these points throughout this time of transition for the Authority. 

On the identical time, we stay involved concerning the integration and prioritization of security all through your company. Throughout a time when WMATA ought to have been ready to accommodate elevated ridership safely and reliably as restoration from the pandemic continues, riders as an alternative suffered service reductions as a result of safety-related points. The most recent indicators of the Authority’s failure to uphold security protocols on a proactive, sustained foundation embrace the poor adherence to energy restoration procedures, indicating that Metro nonetheless has not utterly established a tradition of compliance with guidelines and procedures meant to make sure security of riders and workers. WMATA wants to interrupt its sample of taking corrective motion solely after a security incident happens or after oversight authorities notify you of pressing points. This sample will proceed so long as WMATA tolerates noncompliance with guidelines and procedures, together with its personal guidelines and procedures. In mild of latest occasions, it’s indeniable that earlier efforts to determine a brand new security tradition have to date confirmed inadequate. We’re hopeful that at present’s announcement is an indication that you simply perceive how your time as interim common supervisor can be utilized productively to put the groundwork for a long-lasting course correction that reaches deep inside Metro that values guidelines, procedures, transparency, and accountability as a matter of routine. This work can not watch for Mr. Clarke to hitch Metro later this summer season.

Transit riders within the Nationwide Capital Area deserve higher than what they’ve obtained from Metro for months. They deserve a well-functioning and dependable transit system backed by an organization-wide adherence to security guidelines and procedures. Security can’t be an afterthought.

Your tenure as interim Basic Supervisor and CEO comes at a crucial time for WMATA. As ridership recovers from the drop attributable to COVID-19, the Authority should work to satisfy this rising demand seamlessly. We stay dedicated companions to WMATA in assembly this problem. We sit up for listening to from you on the extra, crucial work wanted to raised embed security into the Authority’s organizational tradition.

Thanks to your consideration to this matter.

Sincerely,