In January 1996, a train operator was killed at an end-of-the-line station when his train slid on icy tracks into parked railcars. There have also been incidents of tower supervisors misdirecting trains in yards, including an incident in which a supervisor directed a train to pass a red (stop) signal. In April 1996, WMATA disconnected the operating mechanisms for the mid-car emergency doors on approximately 100 rail cars without informing the public. The doors were disabled to allow electrical repairs to be made gradually over a two-day period without removing cars from service. Later that month, two workers were injured when their tools made contact with a live electrical cable that should have been deactivated while tracks were being repaired. On May 10, 1996, a delayed response to a fire put both firefighters and passengers at risk.

This document presents a review of safety and operational issues at WMATA. It is being performed under the auspices of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Interactive Elements gratefully acknowledges the assistance, guidance, and comments of Jerry A. Fisher of the FTA's Office of Safety and Security, and the guidance provided by William T. Hathaway of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). We are indebted to the management and staff of WMATA without whose cooperation this review could not have been completed.

The findings and recommendations provided herein are intended as guidance for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). They have been prepared pursuant to Contract Number DTRS57-97-P-80106 by Interactive Elements. In no event shall the FTA or Interactive Elements have any responsibility for any consequences of the use, misuse, inability to use, or reliance upon the information contained in this document; nor do they warrant the accuracy, efficacy, or applicability of its contents.