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WMSC finds gaps in Metro communications maintenance, closes three corrective action plans
Summary
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission reported lapses in preventive maintenance, equipment calibration and facility conditions in its Communication Systems audit, issued two recommendations to WMATA, and noted three CAPs reached final closure while 75 CAPs remain open.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission on Tuesday aired a detailed audit of Metro’s communications systems and reported multiple findings the commission says could affect passenger and worker safety. The WMSC’s audit team flagged instances where technicians did not use required measurement tools, records showed steps completed that were not observed in the field, and several communications rooms showed signs of water intrusion and poor environmental control.
The audit presentation, led by Mr. John O’Donnell of WMSC audit staff, summarized four positive practices and four findings. “Finding 1 identified communication personnel are not consistently completing preventive maintenance on its public address and radio communication systems in accordance with Metrorail’s procedures,” O’Donnell told commissioners, noting field observations where sound-level meters were not used despite required procedures.
Why it matters: public-address, radio and signaling communications are critical for routine station announcements and for communicating during incidents. The WMSC said lapses — including expired electrical-safety gloves discovered during field checks and rooms used to store communications equipment that had active water leaks — increase the risk that equipment will fail or be unsafe to service.
What WMATA has done: the WMSC described two formal recommendations. One asks Metro to reassess how it deploys and secures vital communications equipment, noting accessible cabinets and in-gate areas that are not locked. The second urges Metro to ensure maintenance crews are equipped to perform all required tasks in the field (for example, carrying ladders and printed data sheets to capture required measurements).
CAP progress: staff also reported three corrective action plans (CAP C266 on power-facility egress paths, C274 on road mechanics certification scope, and C276 on equipment calibration) reached final closure milestones since the last public meeting. WMSC staff said Metro implemented new monthly inspection processes for egress paths, revised training and certification rules for road mechanics (preventing them from operating on the main line), and consolidated calibration procedures and records into a single SOP and repository. The WMSC sampled field tools at New Carrollton and found those sampled were appropriately calibrated.
Next steps: commissioners pressed for clarity on whether Metro has a centralized quality-control function for calibration and for a more dashboard-style view of CAP actionable items. WMSC staff said they use Smartsheet to track CAP milestones and are working to convert that detail into trendable dashboards for staff and, eventually, commissioners and the public.
Closing note: the WMSC will continue to monitor Metro’s implementation through audits and follow-up inspections and will retain oversight until the commission is satisfied the corrective actions are sustained.
