WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority says it can’t meet a federal deadline to install barriers between rail cars.
News outlets report Metro told the Federal Transit Administration Friday that material shortages are preventing chain installation sooner than November 2019. The Administration issued the call for the chains after at least two people with visual impairments were reported to have fallen on the tracks between 7000-series rail cars. A hard rubber flap covers gaps between those cars, whereas older models had chain barriers.
The Administration said last week Metro will have to remove hundreds of new cars from service if it can’t meet the Dec. 31 deadline. Any 7000-series cars without barriers would need to be removed by Jan. 1, 2019. Metro warns this would reduce services by 26 percent.
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