Public Hearing: Collision of Two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Trains Near Fort Totten Station, Washington, DC, June 22, 2009

Agenda and Witness List

Day 1 - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Opening statement by Chairman, Board of Inquiry

Introduction of Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel

Board of Inquiry:

  • Chairman of Hearing - Member Robert L. Sumwalt
  • Representing RPH - Acting Director, Mr. James Ritter
  • Representing RE - Director, Dr. Joseph Kolly
  • Hearing Officer/Investigator-In-Charge RPH - Ed Dobranetski PE

Technical Panel:

  • Steve Klejst, Operations/Oversight
  • Rick Downs, Crashworthiness
  • Cy Gura, Track/Engineering
  • Ruben Payan, Signal and Train Control
  • Rick Narvell, Human Performance
  • Dana Sanzo, Survival Factors
  • Dave Watson, Mechanical
  • Pat Sullivan, Safety Recommendations
  • James Southworth, Chief Rail Division
  • Mark Jones, Deputy Chief Rail Division

Public Information Office:

  • Ms. Bridget Serchak, Public Affairs Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

Introduction of Parties:

  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority - Michael Taborn
  • Federal Transit Administration - Michael Flanigon
  • Federal Railroad Administration - Thomas McFarlin
  • Tri - State Oversight Commission - Eric Madison
  • Alstom Signaling, INC - Neal Illenberg
  • Union Switch and Signal Inc. - Robert Pascoe PE
  • Amalgamated Transit Union - Anthony Garland
  • Washington DC Fire and EMS Department - Lawrence Schultz

Accident Overview Presentation by IIC, NTSB Ed Dobranetski PE

WMATA’s oversight of safety

Witness Panel 1:

  • WMATA - John B. Catoe Jr., General Manager
  • WMATA - David Kubicek, Asstistant General Manager
  • WMATA - Mike Taborn, Acting Chief Safety Officer
  • WMATA - Peter Benjamin, Chairman Metro Board

Tech Panel

  • Steve Klejst
  • Dana Sanzo
  • Ruben Payan
  • Rick Narvell
  • Dave Watson
  • Cy Gura

WMATA’s operational actions to address safety issues

Witness Panel 2:

  • WMATA - Harry Hielmann, Assistant Chief Engineer/Project Manager
  • WMATA - David Kubicek, Assistant. General Manager
  • WMATA - Mike Hiller, Chief Vehicle Engineer
  • WMATA - Alan G. Nabb, Superintendent, Communications

Tech Panel

  • Ruben Payan
  • Richard Downs
  • Mark Jones

Day 2 - Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Tri - State Oversight Committee (TOC) overview of WMATA

Witness Panel 3:

  • TOC - Eric Madison, Transportation Planner
  • TOC - Matthew Bassett, Manager Safety Security and Emergency Preparedness

Tech Panel

  • Steve Klejst
  • Ruben Payan
  • Dana Sanzo
  • Cy Gura
  • Dave Watson

State safety oversight of rail transit systems

Witness Panel 4:

  • Massachusetts Department of Public Works - Brian Cristy, Director Transportation Division
  • Regional Transit Authority (Illinois) - Grace Galluci, Deputy Executive Director of Research, Analysis and Policy Development
  • California Public Utilities Commission - Richard Clark, Director, Consumer Product and Safety Division
  • California Public Utilities Commission - Georgetta Gregory, Program Manager, Rail Transit and Crossings Branch
  • Tri - State Oversight Commission - Eric Madison, Transportation Planner

Tech Panel

  • Steve Klejst
  • Dave Watson
  • Cy Gura
  • Rick Narvell

Federal safety oversight of rail passenger systems

Witness Panel 5:

  • Federal Transit Administration - Michael Flanigon, Director, Office of Safety and Security
  • Federal Railroad Administration - John Leeds, Director, Office of Safety Analysis
  • Federal Railroad Administration - Ed Pritchard, Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance
  • American Public Transportation Association - William Grizard, Director Safety
  • American Public Transportation Association - Kathy Waters, Vice President, Member Services

Tech Panel

  • Steve Klejst
  • Richard Downs
  • Ruben Payan
  • Rick Narvell
  • Dave Watson
  • Dana Sanzo
  • Cy Gura
  • Mark Jones

Day 3 - Thursday, February 25, 2010

High Reliability Organizations

Witness Panel 6:

  • Dr. Karlene Roberts, Director for Center for Catastrophic Risk Management, University of California, Berkley
  • Earl Carnes, Senior Advisor, High Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Dr. Rick Hartley, Principal Engineer, B&W Pantex

Tech Panel Lead:

  • Rick Narvell

Closing Statement: Member Sumwalt, Chairman