MBTA launches online safety dashboard to allow public to see status of agency’s progress in responding to FTA’s SMI Special Directives

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has launched an online safety dashboard that allows the public to see the status of MBTA’s progress in responding to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Safety Management Inspection (SMI) Special Directives. The new dashboard includes a description of each Corrective Action Plan, which is intended to correct the MBTA’s analysis and recommendations, and the status of steps being taken to address the FTA’s Special Directives.

“This public-facing dashboard will allow everyone to learn about the progress the MBTA is making to improve the safety and reliability of the system,” said MBTA’s Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca. “MBTA management recognizes the important role it plays in the daily lives of the communities served, and with this dashboard, the MBTA will be transparent about efforts underway to address the FTA findings.”

“The dashboard will be updated monthly, and new features will be added as the MBTA progresses towards addressing each Special Directive. This work will support safety as a core value by communicating and building the infrastructure and organizational framework that will allow us to move forward,” said MBTA Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville.

The MBTA developed 38 Corrective Action Plans and 545 Action Items that detail how it will address each FTA Special Directive and implement safety improvements across the organization. The agency has completed 36 percent of its overall action items to date.

In addition to information on the status of FTA Special Directives, the dashboard also includes a Speed Restriction Report that will be the basis for a new Speed Restriction dashboard that will be launched by the MBTA in March. The Speed Restriction Report is an interim step as the MBTA builds out the fully functioning Speed Restriction dashboard that will be updated daily to provide riders with the most up-to-date information available on location, speed limits and distance for each speed restriction along each subway line.

The FTA released its SMI findings for the MBTA in August 2022. The report covered all rail transit and safety disciplines and included a review of rail transit operations, training, vehicle maintenance, signals, train control and track access. It also covered capital project delivery, traction power, facilities and safety management.