Initiatives

Getting Metro Back2Good white paper PDF Icon

Back2Good update 6 

Download the customer update PDF Icon

Safety - Prevent near misses

  • Red Signal overruns - new software onboard trains will prevent an inattentive train operator from passing a red signal by requiring the operator to perform multiple sequential actions before they can move their train. In addition, stations that have the highest frequency of red signal overruns are having their signals upgraded to LED bulbs to improve their visibility to operators and prevent overruns, which will be completed in early 2017.
  • Enhance technology for roadway worker protections in hazardous areas.
  • Complete work on schedule for installing the public radio system and activating cellular service in the tunnels as work is completed, with certain Blue/Orange and Red Line segments coming online in 2017.

Service - Reduce delays and offloads from track defects and railcar failures

  • Cross the SafeTrack finish line in June and move to preventive maintenance. Metro's proposed preventive maintenance plan is the first of its kind for the agency and provides industry grade standards. Preventive maintenance is the "anti-SafeTrack" that prevents emergency conditions and will begin to cut infrastructure related delays to trains in half.
  • Next: execute a "Get Well" plan for railcars. Accelerate the retirement of the oldest and most unreliable cars, commission a total of 50 new trains, implement targeted repair campaigns of defective components on the legacy fleet, and rebalance the rail yards to avoid missing terminal dispatches.
    • By the end of 2017, all 8-car trains will be 7000 Series consists
    • All 1000 Series cars will be retired before December 2017
    • Accelerate retirement of least reliable (4000 Series) cars - all 100 removed from service by end of 2017, subject to NTSB agreement
    • Released from the burden of bellying and operating with the least reliable cars, rebalance rail yards to have the right number of trains per line for the start of service every morning as well as the afternoon peak
    • Begin operating same series consists to improve train line performance
    • Complete component fixes on legacy fleet - 2000, 3000, 5000 and 6000 Series cars, including HVAC, propulsion systems, and pneumatic brakes to reduce train offloads
    • Finish replacing carpet with resilient flooring on 6000 Series cars
  • The Railcar Get Well Plan will reduce passenger offloads and cut delays due to train car issues by 25% in 2017.
  • Make stations cleaner and brighter, and improve station management, to better serve customers
    • Instead of every four years, all 91 stations will be power washed, scrubbed, and polished annually - improving the surfaces commuters touch and walk on.
    • Each station will be assigned a "champion" among senior managers to work with station personnel to ensure internal coordination of timely repairs to equipment and systems.
    • Stations undergoing major renovations next year will also receive lighting upgrades that increases brightness and visibility on mezzanines and platforms.
  • Adopt peer review recommendations to improve rail operations, including Rail Operations Control Center structural changes to streamline responsibilities, clarify duties, strengthen incident response, better manage station operations, and improve passenger information.
  • Leverage Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to integrate real-time traffic data for bus operations.
  • Begin testing a zero emission, battery powered bus that could become the bus fleet vehicle of the future.

Financial Management - Balance the budget and secure regional governance and funding solution

  • Further reduce expenses by eliminating a total of 1,000 positions
  • Outsource functions including certain quality assurance programs
  • Decrease reliance on federal funds for maintenance
  • Board approval of Reality Check Fiscal Year 2018 budget to fully fund annual requirements
  • Secure regional support for PRIAA reauthorization to continue funding safety and reliability critical capital projects
  • Deliver 90% of the capital program
  • Institute the AbilitiesRide pilot program for Maryland paratransit customers to demonstrate whether customers select private transportation services for their subsidized trips, or continue to use MetroAccess. If successful, all trips subsidized by the program will cost Metro 66% less than comparable MetroAccess trips.

Metro will also actively engage with stakeholders who have started conversations around governance and funding solutions.