New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) blue ribbon panel of transportation experts has announced the final recommendations for rail safety on three railroad operations in the state.
The 29 specific recommendations were made after a year-long study and include the creation of improved data systems to monitor track conditions, adjustment of schedules to provide more time for track work and improving the safety culture at Metro-North.
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During its study on Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City Transit, the panel has discovered the need to automate its process for assessing track conditions and use that data to inform maintenance planning within Metro-North.
MTA chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast said: "The panel’s work is an important step as the MTA addresses not just the particular problems we have experienced since last year, but the general safety culture as well.
"The panel found the MTA has already taken significant steps to address these challenges, though we have a lot of work ahead of us."
Additionally, the panel found the need to implement data systems on LIRR and New York City Transit, in order to monitor all track elements through their lifecycle and integrate inspection data to provide all employees with the best possible understanding of track asset conditions.
Image: Metro-North Railroad maintenance train. Photo: courtesy of Daniel Case.
