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WMATA Proposes 'Back2Good' Plan
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld highlighted several strategies to strengthen Metrorail safety and reliability levels so they are “back to good” in a plan he announced Nov. 30, the first anniversary of his joining the agency.
The train reliability component of Wiedefeld’s “Back2Good” plan includes retiring the oldest and least reliable cars in the fleet by the end of 2017 and a massive railcar component repair and replacement campaign for the rest of the fleet, which began Nov. 1.
Wiedefeld also described new technologies to prevent red signal overruns and strengthen protection for track workers and inspectors. New software installed onboard trains will prevent train operators from passing a red signal by requiring operators to perform certain actions before they can move the train. Also, some stations will undergo signal upgrades to enhance visibility with brighter LED bulbs, a project that will be completed in early 2017.
WMATA also launched a marketing effort to inform the public directly about its progress in improving safety and reliability, including in-system signage, special web pages at www.wmata.com detailing the Back2Good plan, outreach through social and digital media and print and broadcast advertising through local media.
Also, WMATA is preparing to equip its work crews with wearable alarms that will warn if a train is approaching a work zone.
Portable sensors are placed on the tracks in the work zone. If a train approaches, the detection unit sends a signal to the “personal alert devices” that workers wear on their armbands, emitting a flashing light and audible alarm and warning the workers to get out of the way.
WMATA officials said the technology “adds another layer of safety” to protect workers, contractors and inspectors present along the tracks during service hours who might have to climb onto catwalks adjacent to make way for trains.
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