MBTA Operations Control Center makes two policy changes to comply with FTA safety standards

All Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Operations Control Center (OCC) employees have been in sustained compliance with two policy changes that further ensure employees have sufficient time off to recover between shifts and are not dual scheduled for dispatcher and supervisor duties.

The policies close out two Federal Transit Administration (FTA) findings issued in a Special Directive Letter on June 15, 2022. The FTA reported that the finding on mandatory rest hours between shifts has been lifted and the finding on eliminating dual scheduling for dispatcher and supervisor duties has also been lifted.

“These are important milestones on our path to creating and maintaining a safe and reliable transit system,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “A well-trained, rested and fully certified workforce inside our Operations Control Center is an integral part of our commitment to deliver the service our riders deserve.”

The changes to the OCC policies are part of the MBTA’s ongoing efforts to improve safety and security for both workers and riders. The MBTA is also working on 39 Corrective Action Plans to address broader and more long-term safety concerns in response to the FTA’s Safety Management Inspection issued in April of 2022.

“We are committed to making the first public transit system the safest and most reliable one in the country,” Eng said. “These changes are just one step in that process.”

The new policies are designed to ensure OCC employees have adequate time to rest and recover between shifts, which can help to reduce fatigue and improve safety. The policies also prohibit dual scheduling for dispatcher and supervisor duties, which can help to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that employees are properly focused on their tasks.