Norton to Use Today's NTSB Recommendations on Metro Ventilation Failures at Upcoming Congressional Metro Hearing

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for following its usual practice of issuing recommendations as they ripen, well before their final report. Following the January 12 fatal incident at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station, NTSB responded with recommendations today to some of the most serious questions we have raised. NTSB recommended that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): ensure the ventilation system is in good working order; develop ventilation procedures; and train on the developed ventilation procedures. NTSB recommended that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) audit transit systems that have similar ventilation systems as WMATA, signaling that the January 12 incident has national implications. NTSB recommended that the American Public Transit Association (APTA) alert its members nationally to the ventilation problems revealed on January 12 and encourage development of ventilation procedures, as well as urging its members to train on those written procedures.

"The importance of the January 12 tragedy is indicated by the decision for Friday's upcoming congressional hearing on the incident, to be jointly held by two Oversight and Government Reform Committee subcommittees, Government Operations, on which I serve, and Transportation and Public Assets," Norton said. "I will seek information at that time on WMATA's process for implementing these critical NTSB recommendations to ensure the ventilation system failure that occurred on January 12 cannot happen again. Metro riders deserve and expect a higher level of safety than they have received."

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