FTA warns NYC Transit to fix rail-worker safety risks or lose federal funding

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Marc Molinaro yesterday issued a final warning letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's New York City Transit (NYCT) to address safety risks for track maintenance workers.

During a June 2024 audit of the NYCT safety board's State Safety Oversight program, the FTA identified safety deficiencies in the agency's rail roadway worker protection program, noting an increase in near-miss events, FTA officials said in a press release. The FTA issued a special directive in August 2024 after NYCT failed to strengthen safety measures between the death of an employee in November 2023 and a serious injury to an employee in June 2024.

In accordance with yesterday's warning letter, the NYCT must submit an updated safety risk assessment to the FTA within 30 days. The assessment must address the increase in near-misses, must be based on accurate worker risk exposure, and must update the worker-train contact likelihood rating.

If NYCT fails to meet the deadline, the FTA may withhold up to 25% of financial assistance, direct NYCT to use federal financial assistance to address safety issues, or issue restrictions on maintenance practices that present risk of death or injury, FTA officials said.

"Let me be very clear: We will not accept being jerked around on safety and security issues any longer. By anyone, anywhere," Molinaro said in the press release.

MTA's Chief of Policy and External Relations John McCarthy in a statement to the New York Post said that the FTA's concerns were answered seven months ago, and alleged the letter was motivated by the Trump administration's opposition to congestion pricing. The MTA is reviewing the letter "to determine any appropriate legal action," McCarthy added.