U.S. DOT Admin Calls Unauthorized Silver Line Changes 'Alarming'

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is under fire again for its oversight of Metro’s Silver Line extension, prompting a sharp letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation about “alarming” changes made by a subcontractor.

However, representatives at MWAA assert that safety is a top priority, all concerns will be addressed and, at the moment, the project remains on track.

MWAA responded a week ago to concerns from DOT that the same contractor that built circuits blamed for a fatal 2009 crash along the Red Line had made unauthorized changes to the Metro’s Silver Line project.

“This is alarming for many reasons, but most specifically because following the tragic June 22, 2009, collision of two WMATA trains at Fort Totten Station, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that one of the probable cause of the accident was ‘a failure of the track circuit modules, built by GRS/Alstom Signaling Inc.,’” DOT administrator Peter Rogoff said in a May 17 letter to MWAA president and CEO John E. Potter.

In Potter’s June 7 response, he state, “I entirely agree with the concern” Rogoff raised about Alstom Signaling and that MWAA would address the issue.

“Their testing work in this area in this area is not acceptable, and corrective actions have been initiated,” Potter stated. “Please be assured we will not accept any Phase 1 product from Alstom, or any other DTP subcontractor, that has not met all safety requirements … In no case will safety be compromised.”

In a follow up this week, Marcia McAllister, a spokeswoman for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project – which is part of MWAA – said reiterated Potter’s statements.

‘We are undertaking extensive testing and documentation to ensure the safety of the system so everyone can be confident that the system is safe and reliable,” McAllister said. “We will never compromise on safety and quality.”

Furthermore, the fact that letters were exchanged between MWAA and DOT shows that such unauthorized changes will not slip by, she suggested.

“The oversight processes are working,” McAlliser said.

Alstom was doing work for the contractor Bechtel, a representative of which told the Washington Post that Bechtel had met with Alstom senior management ... to "strongly reinforce the need to follow procedures.”

Meanwhile, as contractors continue work on the project’s first phase to Reston – phase two will carry the Silver Line out to Dulles Airport and Ashburn – a representative for MWAA said delays could push back completion of construction, which would mean no bonuses for finishing on time.

However, representatives this week said the project remains on track for late summer delivery, despite a WTOP report this week that estimated Oct. 1 for a January 2014 delivery.

“At this point, we do not see expect delays in the completion of construction,” according to a statement from MWAA provided by McAllister. “Construction completion is anticipated in early to mid-September and the Airports Authority will turn the project over to WMATA. WMATA will determine the opening date following processes set by their board.”

Once MWAA turns the project over to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, WMATA will conduct further tests before opening the line for passengers. WMATA has previously indicated the Silver Line could begin operation in December; however, that could only happen with minimal delays. Conventional wisdom suggests that with such a large project any delays will push the opening date into 2014. Delays can be caused by weather, unforeseen circumstances or mistakes.