WASHINGTON 鈥� Metro is launching new checks aimed at cutting down on the number of trains that speed and run red signals.
Metro Chief Safety Officer Pat Lavin said 鈥渆fficiency testing,鈥� which checks in on train operators during their shifts, will help Metro get a better handle on the situation.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e piloting several areas: one of them is going to be red signal overruns 鈥� the other area that we requested they focus on is this area of overspeeding,鈥� Lavin said last week.
The Federal Transit Administration helped Metro find someone with Federal Railroad Administration experience in similar programs who is helping to design the checks at Metro.
Train operators have run across the Metro system this year alone, in some cases only .
In addition to a closer watch on operators, Metro has moved to make some signals brighter. Lavin has also recommended cutting the top speeds Metro trains can run after data showed many train operators were .
鈥淟ive testing is one of the things that we鈥檙e starting to do, which we haven鈥檛 done in the past, and it鈥檚 done at other railroads,鈥� General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said.
Speeding has been of聽particular concern in work zones. Two federal safety inspectors just 聽in a work zone last month.
Trains are supposed to slow down around workers, but Lavin said at least some train operators have not been aware of the proper procedures.
鈥淲e cannot guarantee anybody鈥檚 safety if the basic rules and procedures are not followed,鈥� Federal Railroad Administration Chief Safety Officer and Metro Board Member Robert Lauby said after the failures tied to the near miss were revealed last month.
Metro has also to emphasize the importance of speed limits and red signals.
