Maintenance of Way (MOW)
The MBTA Maintenance of Way (MOW) department performs critical work to ensure the track is as safe as possible so that trains can run at their intended speed. For example:
- MOW performs overnight track maintenance, typically from 1 AM to 5 AM.
- Route diversions enable MOW to perform larger-scale track replacement and maintenance that require more time to complete.
- Track walkers inspect the tracks from end to end, looking for defects that they must document and report to supervisory staff.
MOW personnel work around the clock on the track, in the rail shop, and in the office to perform the design, materials procurement, inspection, and repairs needed to maintain approximately 200 miles of track, several hundred track switches, and the property that the tracks sit on.
FTA Safety Management Inspection Response
FTA Special Directive 22-04
During their Safety Management Inspection (SMI), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued Special Directive (SD) 22-04 and found that the MBTA:
- Does not provide adequate time to complete necessary MOW maintenance activities
- Has growing maintenance needs in its MOW departments
- Has insufficient data on MOW defects and work order status to guide management planning
Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)
The MBTA developed CAPs to address track maintenance needs.
| CAP | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CAP | SD 22-04 CAP 4 implements improvements to ROW access procedures to increase the available time period for track repairs to be performed and improve efficiency of on-track time. | Status | In progress |
| CAP | SD 22-04 CAP 5 ensures that the MOW department has the staff, materials, contracts, equipment, and budget to sustainably maintain the MBTA ROW. | Status | Complete |
| CAP | SD 22-04 CAP 6 accelerates the implementation of the MBTA's Enterprise Asset Management system. | Status | In progress |
| CAP | SD 22-04 CAP 7 creates digital tools to increase executive management’s understanding of the quantity and severity of track defects. | Status | Complete |
