Two of the country’s largest commuter rail operators recently enhanced the safety of their systems by implementing safety recommendations on the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.
The safety recommendations to Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad were the result of the NTSB’s investigation into five accidents involving Metro-North trains in Connecticut and New York that killed six people, injured 126 more, and resulted in more than $28 million in damages. All five accidents occurred in 2013 and 2014.
Ad Loading...
Recommendations R-14-65 asked Long Island Railroad to screen and evaluate employees in safety-sensitive positions for sleep disorders and then treat all that are diagnosed.
Recommendations R-14-62 and R-14-64 asked Metro-North to revise medical protocols and provide its employees in safety-sensitive positions a list of medications that engineers and conductors must avoid.
Both railroads are part of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority.
“MTA, Metro-North and Long Island Railroad all still have open NTSB safety recommendations that need to be acted on,” said NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt. “These are steps in the right direction but there’s still more work to be done.”
These three safety recommendations, classified as “closed — acceptable action,” bring to 17 the number that have been implemented since the 2019-2020 Most Wanted List campaign was kicked off in February.
Ad Loading...
The NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements serves as the agency’s road map from lessons learned to lives saved, identifying safety recommendations that are ripe for action, and that if implemented, have the potential to prevent accidents, minimize injuries and save lives.
To view explanations of status assignments for all NTSB safety recommendations, click here.
The phased introduction of the cameras for station staff follows the successful rollout of the devices with TTC Special Constables and Provincial Offenses Officers in January 2025.
The plan includes investments in cleaner vehicles and upgraded stations, NJT LiveView to provide real-time GPS tracking of train and light rail service, enhanced safety initiatives through a new Real Time Crime Center, and the debut of a redesigned NJ TRANSIT mobile app.
New research from MTI shows a sharp increase in attacks on public-facing transit employees, with North America accounting for a significant share and bus drivers among the most affected.
BRIT patrols are over and above those already occurring within the district. For example, the agency experienced three copper wire thefts along the G Line in April, followed by others later in the month and in early May.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Fred Ferguson, president and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA), discussed how the industry prepares for emergencies, the growing recognition of motorcoaches as critical infrastructure, and steps operators can take to strengthen disaster readiness.
The approved contract modification will increase funding for transit security officer services to a total not-to-exceed amount of $32.1 million, ensuring a continued and visible security presence across DART’s buses, trains, stations, and facilities.
