Congressman Connolly: Communication Failures Key Problem in Smoke-Filled Metro Incident

The following statement by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) was released Wednesday night, following the NTSB/WMATA briefing to the DC-area congressional delegation on the fatal Yellow Line smoke incident of Jan. 12:

“It has become clear that communication failures were a key factor in the delay in rescuing passengers from the stopped, smoke-filled train in last week’s Yellow Line incident.

Since 9-11, the region has invested significantly to improve communications between first responders and other agencies, including Metro, to address this kind of incident, but it appears more must be done.

And it is also clear that the overall response to the fatal incident is unacceptable. Changes must be made and made quickly. We must restore public confidence in the Metro system and be able to assure hundreds of thousands of daily Metro riders that their safety is the top priority.

While it is imperative that the NTSB, WMATA, and DC Fire determine what went wrong and how we make sure we don’t face another similar incident, where it often seemed that the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing, I am less concerned about placing blame than solving a serious safety problem.

Our Metro system is America’s subway. Forty percent of our area’s federal workforce use Metro to commute each day, along with thousands of tourists from across the nation and the world. The federal government is reliant on Metro and we must make sure it has the resources and safety protocols to fulfill its mission.”

PHOTO: Members of the D.C.-area congressional delegation receive a briefing by the NTSB and WMATA on the fatal Yellow Line incident on Capitol Hill. Photo courtesy of Connolly’s office.

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