Radio encryption blamed for failure in deadly D.C. tunnel incident
The failure of D.C.'s Fire and EMS radios inside the tunnels appeared to be a major flaw, but Metro now says there was nothing wrong with its radio antennas or repeaters in the underground station and tunnels. An initial report from D.C. Fire and EMS said Metro was notified about problems with the radios four days earlier

Larry Levine_WMATA

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The National Transportation Safety Board and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) revealed its first detailed account of some of the problems that occurred in last week's deadly smoke incident at L'Enfant Plaza and what is being done to fix it, My Fox DC reported.
The failure of D.C.'s Fire and EMS radios inside the tunnels appeared to be a major flaw, but Metro now says there was nothing wrong with its radio antennas or repeaters in the underground station and tunnels. An initial report from D.C. Fire and EMS said Metro was notified about problems with the radios four days earlier. Metro spent several days trying to locate the problem but found none. The problem Metro now says was D.C. Fire and EMS.
Metro claims it notified D.C.'s Office of Unified Communications the morning of the L'Enfant malfunction that its radio network appeared to be working, but it wanted to check what is known as a "donor site" linking Metro's radio network with first responders. During the incident, one person died and more than 80 others were injured after being trapped on a train in a smoke-filled tunnel. For the full story, click here.
More Security and Safety

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
LA Metro Sworn Officer Recruitment Draws 950 Applications on First Day
The California agency moves safety into its next phase, recruiting officers to help shape a transit-focused, community-centered force.
Read More →
FTA Plans Family-Friendly Transit Scorecard for Agencies Nationwide
The family-friendly transit dashboard is part of a broader effort by the FTA and U.S. Department of Transportation to increase transparency, accountability, and service quality across the nation's public transportation systems, said officials.
Read More →
New Public Safety Hub Opens in Downtown Houston
The substation strengthens METRO Police presence in an area where transit activity, pedestrian movement, and visitor flow converge.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
Federal Transit Officials Launch MARTA Safety Probe
FTA has given MARTA 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and security funding as part of a broader safety investigation.
Read More →
Strategic Safety Measures at CATS Lead to Drop in Transit Crime
Under the leadership of the CATS Chief Safety and Security Officer, the organization has marked a pivotal transformation.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
How Transit Agencies Are Evolving Enforcement-Only Models With Care-Based Safety Strategies
Transit agencies are redefining safety with care-based response models. See how leaders are improving trust and operations.
Read More →Low-Floor vs. High-Floor Cutaway vs. Modified Van: How 3 Accessible Minibus Designs Compare
As transit demands evolve, so should your fleet. Download the whitepaper to see how the Low-Floor Frontrunner Minibus compares to traditional options.
Read More →