The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board of Directors unanimously passed a motion by Los Angeles County Supervisor and MTA Vice Chair Michael D. Antonovich establishing a “culture of safety” by ordering a full audit of MTA’s safety measures.
“The top priority for the MTA Board of Directors must include a vigilant oversight of the bus and rail system to ensure safety for our 38 million monthly passengers,” said Antonovich.
According to Antonovich, the motion directs the CEO to conduct an independent safety review with recommendations for safety improvements within 90 days with quarterly safety reports to the Board.
The motion also changes the name of the “Operations Committee” to the “System Safety and Operations Committee” and expands the scope of the committee to include all items related to safety audits, upgrades, and overall system safety issues and monthly reports.
Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox.
Additionally, with each board report and agenda item, the CEO will attach an assessment of the item’s impact on system safety and the safety culture.
The MTA Board also voted unanimously to approve expansion of the existing fiscal year 2011-2012 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Transit Services Bureau contract.
The expansion addresses growth of the transit system, restoration of cut positions, staffing of the Gateway/Union Station Complex, and absorption of the previously grant-funded Threat Interdiction Unit.
In total, the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau will gain 70 sworn positions, 31 Security Assistants, and 4 Civilian Professional Staff.
Of the 105 additional personnel that the contract expansion will fund, the Exposition Rail Line, due to become operational in early 2012, will be staffed with 33 sworn personnel, and 24 Security Assistant-Fare Inspectors.
Additionally, 8 sworn personnel will staff the Gateway/Union Station Complex, 6 Deputies to enhance the deployment on the Green Line, 5 Deputies and 7 Security Assistant-Fare Inspectors to the Blue Line, and 4 Deputies to the Silver Bus Line.
Also included in the contact expansion will be 6 Deputies to enhance the Special Problems Unit, and absorption of the previously grant funded Threat Interdiction Unit, which consists of 8 Sworn personnel.