3/10/2014

Dear Colleague:

I write to provide an update to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Urgent Safety Advisory that was issued October 4, 2013, concerning unintended train movements. The FTA Urgent Safety Advisory was issued in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommendation R-13-036. The NTSB issued this recommendation following the September 30, 2013, collision between an unoccupied Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train and a stationary CTA train in revenue service.

As you know, such rail accident investigations can take many months or even years to complete. While the NTSB continues its investigation, the FTA has identified continuing operational safety concerns related to the need for improved protection against unintended train movements as well as the proper techniques for cleaning electrical components of rail cars. The purpose of this updated advisory is to ask each rail agency to conduct a safety risk assessment evaluating the adequacy of related practices and procedures. Please refer to the FTA Urgent Safety Advisory update.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and FTA hold safety as our number one priority. If you and your staff have questions regarding this advisory, please contact Duana Love, General Engineer, at (312) 353-3882, or you can contact me directly at (202) 366-4040.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this advisory and your continued commitment to transit safety.

Yours truly,

Therese W. McMillan