Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 28, 2008

Metro receives assistance to establish model transit emergency management program

Metro was chosen as a pilot site to receive assistance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish a Transit Emergency Management program to be used as a model by transit systems nationwide. The National Transit Institute (NTI) received a Cooperative Agreement from FTA and will administer this effort.

The formalized emergency management program is part of Metro’s ongoing effort to improve communications with customers, particularly during emergencies that significantly impact travel on Metrobus and Metrorail.

The emergency management initiative will build on Metro’s familiarity with large-scale events such as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the opening of Nationals Ballpark in March, and most recently July 4 events on the National Mall, and experience in responding to service-related incidents, such as bus or rail fires, derailments, and station or road closures due to police or other emergency activity. The program also aims to minimize response time and delays in rail and bus service to passengers, strengthen customer communications, improve coordination among personnel who respond to various scenes and reinforce partnerships and with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

“A strong process of emergency management will help us better protect the lives of our customers and employees, and protect Metro trains, stations, buses and infrastructure,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn.

In creating the new program, Metro will review existing emergency management practices, create an emergency management team and complete an emergency operations plan. Once complete, the emergency management program will help improve coordination, cooperation and communications to passengers, employees and partners during Metro-related incidents.

News release issued at 10:05 am, July 28, 2008.