Controversy Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

in recent years, wmata has drawn criticism neglect of safety in both rail , bus systems. problems include failures within system designed prevent train collisions , escalators failing or breaking apart while in service. national transportation safety board (ntsb) has recommended wmata invest $1 billion in needed safety improvements. december 2008 report wmata inspector general documented metro s system safety , risk management office bypassed when changes made metrorail s operating procedures, though office s review , approval required matter of policy. on june 22, 2009, 2 metrorail trains collided between takoma , fort totten metro stations, killing nine. in february 2011, national transportation safety board conducted public hearing during witnesses testified problems safety culture @ wmata. ntsb s final report on accident commented [t]he failure of wmata engineers , technicians or managers address track circuit anomalies symptomatic of larger safety culture issues within organization.

safety concerns have grown point region s congressional delegation introduced national metro safety act of 2011, establish federal safety standards heavy rail mass transit systems. in response, wmata replacing track control system , ordered immediate inspection of of escalators. inspection showed on 10 percent of escalators had faulty brakes.

the service state of elevators , escalators of public concern. wmata posts webpage updated daily notify users of elevator , escalator outages. ntsb has criticised ability of metrorail s series 1000 cars withstand collisions @ low speeds. wmata has ordered new cars replace series 1000 fleet.

closed-circuit television cameras monitor every metrobus , every metrorail station.

discrimination

there have been claims of discrimination within wmata on years. of 2005, wmata workforce composed of people following demographic groups:

in 1990, christine townsend sued wmata in washington federal district court on basis of sexual discrimination. won, court noting in outcome of townsend v. washington metro. area transit auth. wmata explanation had many unexplained inconsistencies, irregularities, , holes .

former metro workers claim wmata consistently passes on non-black applicants or workers employment or promotion.

in may 2015, wmata board voted ban advocacy advertising after american freedom defense initiative sought purchase advertisements in 5 subway stations , on twenty buses depicting muhammad. new york city metropolitan transportation authority attempted deny similar anti-islam ads afdi, had decision challenged in court, , subsequently voted ban non-commercial advertising.