Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has formally closed its review of the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) safety oversight of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The closure returns direct oversight of the MBTA’s safety equipment and management to the DPU.

“The MBTA is a different agency than it was three years ago, and while we know we have more work to do, 99% of our CAPs have been submitted, and the safety of riders and the workforce continues to be at the forefront of everything we do,” said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA GM Phillip Eng. “This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature, and I thank them for their leadership and support, which has enabled the MBTA to make these extraordinary strides in safety, more reliable service, better conditions for our workforce, and so much more.”

Through its Rail Transit Safety Division, the DPU is Massachusetts's State Safety Oversight Agency, meaning it oversees the safety of the MBTA's equipment and operations.

MBTA’s Continued Improvement

In 2022, after several major safety incidents at the MBTA under the prior administration, the FTA placed the DPU’s Rail Transit Safety Division under directives to make significant changes to its staffing, operations, funding, and safety practices.

The FTA found the agency under-resourced and unable to provide adequate safety oversight of the MBTA. The DPU was ordered to increase its oversight of the MBTA’s safety protocols, including track maintenance, uncontrolled train movements, management of the Operations Control Center, and personnel training.

With support from Governor Healey and the Legislature, the DPU took significant steps to overhaul its MBTA oversight, including creating a Rail Transit Safety Division and hiring its first Director, Robert Hanson.

The Division has more than doubled in staff since its inception, now including investigators, engineers, data analysts, lawyers, and an experienced leadership team, MBTA officials said.

The Division’s ongoing engagement in both field operations and administrative oversight ensures safety remains the top priority across the MBTA’s subway system. The Rail Transit Safety Division conducts independent inspections of the MBTA’s subway cars, stations, and carhouses, and produces external safety and compliance audits of the MBTA. 

Over the years, the DPU has made steady progress toward these goals. In 2024, the FTA gave the DPU a satisfactory report for its recent Triennial Audit and closed Special Directive 22-8 that same year.

Additionally, Governor Healey has made record investments to improve safety and reliability across the MBTA system. That includes eliminating all slow zones by repairing tracks, upgrading cars and stations, increasing hiring, and deploying new anti-collision technologies.

FTA Approval

On September 11, 2026, the FTA issued a letter to the DPU, formally closing the final special directive, essentially returning direct responsibility for the remaining safety actions to the DPU.

The FTA found that the DPU has satisfied all requirements and has demonstrated significant improvements in its capacity to oversee the safety of MBTA rail operations independently.