Purpose

To determine whether Staten Island Railway has taken appropriate steps to address safety-related issues at all of its train stations including determining if “Customer Assistance Intercoms” are operational and accessible to all.

Background

MTA Staten Island Railway (SIR) was created as a public benefit corporation subsidiary of MTA in 1970. SIR is responsible for the operation of a rapid transit railroad system on Staten Island pursuant to a lease and operating agreement with New York City. Administratively, SIR is a separate operating unit, reporting to the NYC Transit, Department of Subways. SIR operates a single rapid transit line which runs the length of the Island (14 miles) from St. George Terminal to the southern terminal at Tottenville. Riders can connect with NYC Transit system buses at many of SIR’s 22 stations or to the Staten Island Ferry. SIR operates 24 hours a day with service every 30 minutes, and more frequently during weekday rush-hours. In addition to regular operations and maintenance, SIR’s capital projects include the repair and improvement of station security, station structural components and bridges, as well as the initial phases of the rehabilitation of the St. George Interlocking.

Key Findings

Generally, SIR documented its inspections of facilities where safety-related incidents occurred and the actions taken to remediate conditions that might have contributed to such incidents.

• In certain instances, responses to safety-related incidents were not documented. A lack of pertinent policies and procedures as well as staffing shortages likely contributed to lapses in documenting incidents and their related responses.
• SIR’s Customer Assistance Intercom system is not operational system-wide, and SIR did not have a formal timetable of when the system (in whole or in part) will become operational.

Key Recommendations

• Develop written policies and procedures pertaining to SIR’s response to safety- related incidents at the stations, including, but not limited to:
  • How the incident is routed to the Engineering Department, Maintenance of Way or other unit;
  • Supporting documents required for all incidents including those where the incidents are addressed immediately and no work order is issued; and
  • When multiple inspections of an incident area result in different findings, reconcile the differences and document what final conclusion has been reached.
• Establish a formal timeline for the complete activation of the CAI system.