Photo by Mr. T in DC

Today, WMATA announced that the National Transportation Safety Board has closed seven more of Metro’s outstanding safety recommendations, making it a little less terrible than it used to be.

According to a press release, the NTSB has now closed 20 out of 29 safety recommendations, which were implemented to help improve the safety and longevity of the Metro system. Most of the recommendations were implemented in the aftermath of the deadly Red line crash in 2009, which killed nine. According to Metro, the seven recommendations that were closed today include:

• R-07-025 Ensure appropriate coordination between all departments responsible for maintenance and design to resolve issues before new equipment is purchased.
• R-07-026 Establish a single point of responsibility within [Car Maintenance] to quickly evaluate and incorporate actions identified through accident investigations or related research.
• R-07-027 Establish written procedure regarding rail lubrication for single-track operations over switch, turnouts.
• R-08-001 Review and update [operating rules] to provide for layers of protection for Roadway Worker – adding requirements for Briefings, Scope & Duties, acknowledgement from trains.
• R-09-010 To all Transit Properties – Review medical history and physical examination forms and modify them as necessary to elicit information regarding sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.
• R-09-11 To all Transit Properties – Establish a program to identify operators who are at high risk for obstructive sleep disorders and require that such operators by appropriately evaluated and treated.
• R-10-11 Completely remove unnecessary wayside maintenance communication system to eliminate potential for interference with Automatic Train Control system

“The closure of seven recommendations by the NTSB continues our steady progress toward making the system safer for riders and employees,” Metro General Manager Richard Sarles said in the release. “With the hard work of our employees and continued funding support from our stakeholders, we will stay on our path to bring all safety recommendations to closure.”

Metro also says that, of the nine remaining recommendations, four have already been submitted to NTSB for closure, but the remaining five are “longer-duration projects.”

Good job, Metro. You get a gold star today.