Sprawl and Crawl Wrote:
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> U.S. DOT Admin Calls Unauthorized Silver Line
> Changes 'Alarming'
>
http://herndon.patch.com/articles/mwaa-no-delays-y
> et-safety-top-priority#comments
>
> Representatives say safety is a top priority and
> the project remains on track.
>
> 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.
As I said, union labor.