On the recordMarch 14, 2011
on Thursday I reintroduced the National Metro Safety Act with Senators Cardin, Murray, Warner and Webb. I first introduced this bill on July 23, 2009, after the deadly crash on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Metro system that killed 9 people and injured more than 50. This legislation does three things. First, it gives the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary the authority to establish and enforce national safety standards for metro systems across America. Second, it requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to work with the National Transportation Safety Board to develop these standards. Third, it requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to implement NTSB's most wanted safety standards. These include: crashworthiness, data event recorder, emergency entry and evacuation standards for rail cars; and hour of service regulations for train operators. On Monday June, 22, 2009, the unthinkable happened right here in our Nation's Capital. A Metro train struck another train during evening rush hour. Eight passengers were killed including one Marylander from Hyattsville and one Metro employee. Over 50 passengers were injured by the crash. It was the worst accident in Metro's history. Approximately, 1 year later, the NTSB released its report from its investigation of the crash. This was the saddest report with grim revelations. It found that the Metro crash could have been prevented and nine lives could have been saved.
