Quality, Compliance & Oversight
In August 2022, the MBTA launched the Quality, Compliance & Oversight (QCO) office to respond to, implement, and oversee the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA's) findings and directives in the Safety Management Inspection (SMI) report.
QCO reports publicly every month to the MBTA Board of Directors meetings on progress toward implementing the FTA’s directives.
Meredith Sandberg leads QCO and reports directly to the General Manager in order to implement all of the FTA’s recommended actions.
The FTA Report
The FTA released a Safety Management Inspection (SMI) report on August 31, 2022. The report covered all rail transit and safety disciplines. It included a review of rail transit operations, training, vehicle maintenance, signals and train control, and track access. The SMI also covered capital project delivery, traction power, facilities, and safety management.
Learn more about the FTA report and how we’re responding to it
FTA Safety Management Inspection Response
Immediate Action Letters
Maintenance of Way (MOW) Reports
In March 2023, the MBTA commissioned Charles O’Reilly of Carlson Transport, LLC to conduct an independent investigation of the circumstances leading up to the imposition of systemwide speed restrictions due to track conditions. The scope of this investigation was to review processes, procedures, and accountability within the Maintenance of Way Department, and more broadly at the MBTA, regarding track inspections and track defect mitigation.
The MBTA Safety Department also conducted an internal review.
The final independent report was delivered on August 30, 2023. The MBTA is publicly releasing these reports as part of our commitment to transparency and accountability.
- Read the independent O’Reilly Report
- Read the MBTA Safety MOW Report
- Look at the current status of Speed Restrictions on our Speed Restriction Dashboard
Several aspects of the findings and issues are also being tackled within the MBTA’s SMI Response – specifically, under the Special Directive 22-4 Track Maintenance CAPs and more broadly, under the Special Directive 22-9 and 22-12 with the Workforce Assessment CAP and the Training CAP.
Additional Resources
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
FTA Safety Management Inspection Response
Immediate Action Letters
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.