Immediate Action Letters
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) identified issues that resulted in immediate action letters to the MBTA.
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- Immediate Action Required to Prevent Train Collisions with Workers (September 14, 2023)
- Immediate Action Required to Protect Workers on the Right of Way (ROW) (April 18, 2023 - Closed January 5, 2024)
- DPU Immediate Action Letters (March 7, 2023)
- Immediate Action Required to Address Safe Movement of Disabled Trains (July 28, 2022 - Closed October 28, 2022)
Immediate Action Required to Prevent Train Collisions with Workers
On September 14, 2023, in response to recent near-miss safety incidents, the FTA issued an immediate action letter requiring the MBTA to:
- Promptly report near misses to the FTA and provide preliminary and final investigation reports.
- Explain reporting delays that have occurred since August 1, 2023, and outline actions taken to prevent future reporting delays.
- Analyze each near miss that has occurred since August 1, 2023, including actions taken or planned to prevent future near misses.
- Provide additional training for MBTA dispatchers and their supervisors.
- Verify the accuracy of bi-directional communication between workers on the right of way (ROW) and the Operations Control Center (OCC).
- Ensure that all motorpersons and Engineering and Maintenance supervisors are briefed on worker locations prior to commencing their shifts.
- Increase flag sites for Level 4 protection in areas of limited visibility.
- Enhance worksite visibility and establish physical protections for workers accessing the ROW under Level 1 protection.
- Prohibit the use of Level 5 protection (lone workers) until approved to do so by the FTA.
- The FTA sent a follow-up letter to clarify its prohibition on using lone workers and approve the MBTA’s exception request.
Immediate Action Required to Protect Workers on the ROW
On April 18, 2023, in response to recent near-miss safety incidents, the FTA issued an immediate action letter.
On January 5, 2024, the FTA sent a letter stating the closure of the April 18, 2023 Immediate Action Letter. The FTA acknowledged the MBTA has completed the actions listed in the April 2023 action letter and the associated Safety Work Plan (SWP).
The action items listed in the April 2023 action letter required the MBTA to:
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Monitor ROW access procedures and compliance
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The MBTA must submit daily ROW access reports to the FTA until December 31, 2023. Planning and verification documents for weekends and state or federal holidays can be submitted on the next weekday.
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Evaluate ROW access capacity
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- The MBTA completed this analysis on April 23, 2023, and then established restrictions for the number of work crews on each line, which have been accepted by FTA.
- The FTA approved the MBTA's proposal to modify work crew access limitations for "surge" style diversions.
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Implement a ROW Rules Compliance and Safety Work Plan
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- The MBTA submitted a Work Plan to the FTA on May 5, 2023.
- The FTA required the MBTA to submit a revised Work Plan.
- The FTA conditionally approved the MBTA’s revised Work Plan, which was resubmitted on June 5, 2023.
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Accelerate ROW Training updates
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We updated and are continuing to improve the MBTA ROW Training curriculum.
DPU Immediate Action Letters
On March 7, 2023, the DPU identified issues that resulted in immediate action letters for the following items:
Immediate Action Required to Address Safe Movement of Disabled Trains
On July 28, 2022, the FTA issued an immediate action letter to the MBTA requiring a safety standdown to prohibit workers who have not attended a safety briefing from moving any rail transit vehicles in yards or shops.
The FTA approved the MBTA's Standdown Training Action Plan and closed the immediate action letter.
