Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL
Final Report – January 5, 2009
Issue Papers
iii. Review the distribution of resources for all operational functions and determine whether staffing
levels appropriately cover necessary duties to implement necessary safety programs.
iv. Empower the Assistant Executive Officer, Operating Services to transfer resources from one area to
another within his or her span of control in order to address the most safety critical positions and
trends.
v. Consider the annual budget process an opportunity to reallocate staff among functions on a routine
basis to determine if the staffing levels and skills are sufficient to manage an operating commuter
railroad.
c. Implement Immediate Organizational Changes:
i. Enhance interdepartmental communication to prevent the “silo effect”.
ii. Examine near term infrastructure and facilities, fleet, and service enhancements for oversight staffing
needs.
iii. Re-assign the reporting of the Safety and Security Department from the Assistant Executive Officer,
Operating Services, to the SCRRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
iv. Establish an Operating Rules Department reporting to the Assistant Executive Officer, Operating
Services.
v. Enhance the contractors’ Field Testing Programs consistent with SCRRA’s restructured Operating
Rules Program.
vi. Define the overall responsibility for field operations management.
vii. Strengthen the role of the QMP function whether in the Metrolink Operations Center (MOC) or
elsewhere to better manage and respond to real time locomotive and rail car failures.
viii. Fill key positions in the SCRRA Operations Department, specifically:
(a) Director of Operations; and
(b) Manager of Operations.
d. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities
i. Review the SSPP, operating rules, Standard Operating Procedures and contracts to identify provisions
affecting or affected by observations of the Organizational Analysis.
ii. Direct the Transportation contractor to:
(a) Perform all required operational testing in compliance with SCRRA approved
operational testing plan.
(b) Establish a schedule of tests and training to meet all required criteria.
(c) Report regularly on actual versus scheduled training and testing. Identify exceptions
and act promptly to correct such deficiencies.
iii. Direct the SCRRA Operations staff to audit contractor testing programs to ensure compliance with
approved operational testing plan as the primary oversight function. Conducting operational tests of
contractors’ personnel is a secondary function. Note: SCRRA’s dispatchers must be involved in some
efficiency tests. SCRRA Operating Rules staff must develop quality assurance/quality control measures
for the contractors programs and methods that may require some joint field activity.
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