<div>Dear friends and neighbors,</div>
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<div>Last Monday night representatives from WMATA responded to our request to discus the issues surrounding the bus/train accident of Thursday March 26 and the subsequent rerouting of the F4 bus line. This is the most used means of public transportation in our town. For very different, yet obviously interrelated, reasons we are gravely concerned about the issues of safety and public transportation. </div>
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<div>First a brief recap of the accident for those who don't already know what happened. The following description comes from our police department's report of the incident:</div>
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<div><font size="3"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">On March 26, 2009, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a passenger train collided with a Metro bus at the Town Center crossing. Just after another train had cleared the crossing, Bus #1, heading east on Queensbury Road, began to cross the tracks at about the same time that Bus #2 turned left from northbound Lafayette onto westbound Queensbury. Before Bus #2 reached the railroad crossing, the gates began coming down because of another approaching train. Bus #2, which was now sideways in the road between Lafayette and the crossing, was blocking Bus #1's ability to completely clear the track (the back end of the bus was still across the tracks). </font></font></div>
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<p><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Seeing that a train was approaching, all of the passengers on Bus #1 hurriedly jumped off the bus and got out of the way of the oncoming train. Only the bus driver was in the bus when the train struck the rear right side of the bus. The driver received non life-threatening injuries. The collision with the train pushed Bus #1 into Bus #2. The driver of Bus #2 was not injured, and he said that none of his passengers reported injuries. Apparently, all of the passengers of Bus #2 live nearby, because they all left the bus and the area prior to the investigation getting underway. </font></p>
<p><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">There has been relatively high media attention on this incident, with the accompanying pressure on WMATA to take action. This culminated over the weekend when a news team spotted another bus at the crossing apparently engaging in risky driving at the crossing. </font></p>
<p>Without informing Riverdale Park, much-less consulting with us, WMATA decided that this bus route should be redirected so as not to cross the tracks until an evaluation of the overall situation could be finished. We (town government) contacted WMATA Monday and asked them to come and tell the mayor and council what was occurring and listen to our concerns/position at our Monday Work Session. They agreed and were present. </p>
<p>Based on the information presented Monday night, WMATA initiated a "Code 1" (highest level) investigation immediately after learning of the accident. The investigators had 72 hours to submit a preliminary report, and 14 days to submit a final report. The final report to their senior management will tell what happened and how any systemic problems should be remedied. The 72 hour report concluded that temporary action was required in order to insure no further accident occurs until the final review and recommendations can be made.</p>
<p>What was clear from WMATA and our police description of the accident was that at least part of the problem was driver error and further their training/standard operating procedures for dealing with rail crossings have not been updated in a long time. While there might be issues associated with the route in general and crossing rail tracks, the first real issues are driver error and training related. </p>
<p>The investigator apologized for not including Riverdale Park in the initial decision for a temporary reroute and committed to working directly with us going forward. He further promised to share the final report with us to the degree WMATA's legal council would allow. I made plane that we would expect at least a reasonable summary of findings if they were unwilling/unable to provide complete access. </p>
<p>Further testimony was provided by the route planner for our area. He made plane that an evaluation of route alternatives should be initiated in this situation. I agreed that we could discuss what the process might be for such changes, but also made plane that we would set the bar very high prior to agreeing to any permanent changes. </p>
<p>Council members and I enumerated many safety concerns about the new/temporary route being followed as well as the importance of serving the transportation needs of our town center area. On the surface it seems that the new route they are using simply changes one set of dangers/concerns for a new set of dangers/concern. </p>
<p>At this point I believe we will see a return to the original bus route soon, but I temper this view with a determination that we never see a catastrophic accident in the heart of our town. I view this accident as a wake up call to WMATA, MARC and Riverdale Park to avert a future tragedy while still delivering quality transit to and through our town. </p>
<p> Best wishes,</p>
<p>Vern</p>
<p><br>-- <br>Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland<br></p></div>